asked the Prime Minister in writing, on 3 September 2014:

In respect of hospitality since 7 September 2013, has the Minister's department paid for any function to introduce to the department (a) the Minister, (b) the Minister's staff, and where applicable, each (c) junior Minister (including Assistant Ministers), (d) junior (and Assistant) Minister's staff, (e) Parliamentary Secretary, and (f) Parliamentary Secretary's staff; if so, at what cost.

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

Unlike the former government, the Prime Minister believes it is important to thank officials in his Department for their hard work, particularly given the tumultuous final year of the former government when they served three different Prime Ministers.