Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 13 December 2010:

(1) Given that the Minister was reported to be leading a delegation of Members of Parliament (MPs) and journalists on his trip to Israel in December 2010, can a list be provided of who was in that delegation.

(2) Is the Minister aware of any private funding sources contributing to the travel and/or accommodation costs for people involved in this trip; if so, can details of the amounts be provided.

(3) Did the Minister's trip coincide with the Australia Israel Leadership Forum (AILF) trip to Israel for Australian MPs and journalists or was it one and the same; if it was separate to the AILF trip, can details be provided of which MPs attended the AILF trip, including: (a) the costs of the travel and accommodation; and (b) who paid.

(4) What was the itinerary of the Minister's trip and, if it was separate to that of the Minister's, the itinerary of the AILF trip.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

(1) I (Mr Rudd) undertook an official bilateral visit to Israel where I also took part in the Australia Israel Leadership Forum (AILF). A list of the Australian delegation to the AILF based on information provided to the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv by the Australia Israel Cultural Exchange is attached as Annex 1.

(2) The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware that some private funding was provided to AILF participants, but it does not hold authoritative records on this question. Questions on the details of the private funding should be directed to the AILF organisers.

(3) My official bilateral visit to Israel coincided with the AILF, in which I also took part. Questions concerning sources of funding should be directed to AILF organisers or directly to participating MPs.

(4) I made an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 12-14 December, as part of a broader visit to the Middle East which included official visits to Egypt and Jordan. In Israel, I met with President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Vice Prime Minister Shalom, Deputy Prime Minister Meridor, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Liberman, Minister for Social Affairs Herzog, and US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Mitchell. I also met with the parents of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and with senior Australian UN officials, and laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. In the Palestinian Territories, I met with President Abbas and Foreign Minister Malki and visited a refugee camp run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

My official program in Israel also included participation in the following AILF events: meetings with President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu (following my private meetings with each of the leaders); addressing the ceremony at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial establishing a chair of holocaust studies in honour of William Cooper; laying a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial; and addressing the AILF Gala Dinner.

Annex 1: The Australian Delegation-Australia Israel Leadership Forum 2010