Senate debates Questions on Notice
Foreign Affairs: Overseas Delegations (Question No. 547)
David Johnston WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011:
For each calendar year, from 2005 to 2010, how many overseas delegations were sponsored by the department, including:
(a) which countries the delegations were from;
(b) the names and positions of each delegation member; and
(c) the total cost to the Government of these delegations.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:
To provide the detailed information sought on overseas delegation visits would entail a significant diversion of resources requiring input from all departments and agencies and all overseas posts. I do not consider the additional work can be justified.