Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 29 November 2010:

Since 14 September 2010, for each Minister and any Parliamentary Secretaries within their portfolio:

(1) Do the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries have access to a departmental credit card; if so, can a copy be provided of all bank statements.

(2) (a) How many mobile devices are provided to the Minister's office; and (b) what is the total spend on mobile devices for each office to date.

(3) At what level is each staff member employed in the office.

(4) What has been the total cost of travel for the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries.

(5) What has been the total travel for all staff, by office.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

(1) No.

(2) (a) 20, comprising 10 Blackberries and 10 Next G cards. (b) $7,729.44. This figure relates to costs incurred between 14 September 2010 and 29 November 2010.

(3) The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 19 October 2010, the Department tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 October 2010.

(4) The cost of official travel for Parliamentarians paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation is reported bi-annually. Travel costs for the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 will be tabled by the Special Minister of State in the last sitting week of June 2011.

In addition, between 14 September 2010 and 29 November 2010, the total cost of short-term transport (such as hire cars and taxis) was $4,587.06.

(5) The Special Minister of State will respond on behalf of other Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries in relation to the total travel for all staff, by office. Please refer to the answer to Question No. 308.