asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 17 August 2011:

Has the Minister or any of his ministerial staff received a briefing, written or verbal, from his Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and/or consultants regarding the additional costs associated with expanding the Australia Network's coverage into the Middle East and North Africa; if so, when and what was the nature of this advice and the additional cost.