Tony Crook (O'Connor, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 22 February 2011:

In respect of trade missions and consulates in the United States of America (USA) during 2010-11: (a) how many staff in his department are located in (i) the USA, and (ii) Australia, but supporting his department's operations in the USA; (b) what staffing costs are associated with part (a)(i) and (ii); (c) how many staff from Australian Government departments other than his are supporting his department's operations in the USA; (d) how many consultants are engaged by his department in the USA, and at what cost; and (e) what is the total budgeted expenditure for his department's operations in the USA, and what sum has been spent to date.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

(a)    (i) 45 Australian-based DFAT employees and 112 locally-engaged employees (as at 31 January 2011).

(ii) There are 10 departmental officers currently working in the United States Branch of Americas and Africa Division (AAD) (as at 31 January 2011).

(b) (i) From 1 July 2010 to 31 January 2011 DFAT incurred $7,026,957 in salaries and entitlements expenses for Australian-based staff in the USA.

(ii) From 1 July 2010 to 31 January 2011 DFAT incurred $741,170 in salaries and entitlements expenses for staff in Australia supporting DFAT's operations in the USA.

(c) There are 212 Australian Government employees from departments and agencies other than DFAT deployed in support of the work of Australian embassies, trade missions and consulates in the USA.

(d) Details of all contracts entered into by the department (including consultants) are compiled biannually in the Senate Order on Government Agency Contracts (the "Murray Report"). Details of the "Murray Report" for calendar year 2010 can be found at http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/contracts/ and a report covering the 2010-11 financial year will be compiled after 30 June 2011.

(e) From 1 July 2010 to 31 January 2011 DFAT incurred $16,662,671 in operating expenses for operations in the USA and is planning further expenditure of $10,567,496 from 1 February 2011 to 30 June 2011 (post operating costs only, excludes A-based salaries and entitlements).