asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011:

For each calendar year, from 2005 to 2010, in regard to travel by departmental staff based in Canberra:

(a) how many overseas business class flights were taken;

(b) what was the total cost to the Government of overseas business class flights; and

(c) what were the top 10 countries visited.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The information requested is unavailable. The department's overseas business class flight data does not distinguish between flights taken by Canberra-based departmental staff and those taken by non-staff members, such as staff dependants and contractors.