Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity, in writing, on 25 November 2010:

(1) How many (a) mobile phones, (b) blackberries and (c) I-Pads are currently allocated to the (i) Minister, and (ii) the Minister’s ministerial staff.

(2) In respect of mobile phone usage between (a) 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010, and (b) 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, what was the total cost for (a) the Minister, and (b) the Minister’s ministerial staff.

(3) For each month since December 2007, what was the cost of mobile phone usage for each mobile phone account allocated to the (a) Minister, and (b) Minister’s ministerial staff.

Gary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service and Integrity) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

(1) As at 25 November 2010, the number of devices allocated were**

(a) (i) two (ii) none   

(b) (i) none (ii) eight

(c) (i) none (ii) none

As expenditure reporting in Finance is conducted on a monthly basis, the Department is unable to provide information corresponding to specific dates, however, the data provided covers the period requested. Telecommunications accounts are established and managed in Finance as one account for the Minister’s Office. On this basis, the costings provided do not distinguish between Ministers and ministerial staff.

(2) and (3)

* It should be noted that the Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity was created with the release of the second Gillard Ministry on 14 September 2010 – as such no data is provided for the period prior to this date.

**All figures quoted above are shared between the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Finance and Deregulation, in accordance with the SMOS’ dual role as Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity and Special Minister of State.