Defence Reservists Lunch

Senator Evans asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 17 November 2004:

With reference to a luncheon function involving senior business people on Sunday, 28 March 2004, which was held at Fort Denison to promote Defence Reserves to employers:

1. Did the Minister for Employment Services and General Cosgrove attend the lunch.
2. How many other Australian Defence Force (ADF) and departmental personnel attended the lunch.
3. Did any other federal government parliamentarians attend; if so, who.
4. Were any non-government federal parliamentarians invited to attend; if so, who.
5. Which business people attended the lunch.
6. Were the travel costs of any of the business people who travelled from around Australia to attend the lunch borne by the taxpayer; and (b) can details be provided of all travel costs that were met, specifying which Defence program was used to fund this travel.
7. Can copies be provided of the menu and the drinks menu.
8. Were the following dishes served: Peking duck with cucumber, shallots and plum; seared scallops with prawn gow gee; soy and ginger glaze, salt rubbed salmon with Asian mushrooms and fried sage; slow roasted, pepper crusted, rib eye fillet; and crisp roasted barramundi.
9. What was the cost of the food served at the lunch.
10. How many bottles of wine, champagne and beer were served.
11. What was the cost of alcohol served at the lunch.
12. What was the cost per bottle of the most expensive wine and champagne served.
13. Did the department pay for this lunch; if so, which program was the money drawn from; if not, who paid.
14. Can a list be provided showing all of the associated costs of this lunch, including table hire, glass hire, waiting staff etc.

Senator Hill - The answers to the honourable senator's questions are as follows:

1. The Minister for Employment Services did not attend the event. General Cosgrove attended to launch the Private Sector Leave Guidelines for Defence Reservists.
2. 32.
3. No.
4. No.
5. The event was attended by representatives from:
   • The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several state and territory chambers;
   • Australian Industry Group;
   • Australian Council of Trade Unions;
   • Indigenous Business Council of Australia;
   • Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia;
   • Australian Business Limited;
   • Australian Hotels Association;
   • Australian Retailers Association;
   • Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia;
   • Timber Merchants Association;
   • Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited;
   • National Australia Bank;
   • Tenix Defence;
   • ADI Limited;
   • Australia Post; and
   • numerous small and medium-sized organisations.
6. The travel costs for one business person from each state and territory were paid by Defence. These were representatives from organisations that appeared in a Defence Reserves case study booklet distributed at the function. Travel costs for these people totalled $4,745.49, and were funded by the Reserve Policy Division within Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.
7. Yes. A copy of the menu has been forwarded separately to your office.
8. Yes.
9. $14,760.
10. The total number of bottles of wine and beer served can not be ascertained.
11. $4,560.
12. Alcohol was not costed on a per-bottle basis. The beverage package was $38 per head.
13. Yes. It was funded by Reserve Policy Division within Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group. Reserve Policy Division funds all Defence Reserves Support Council activities. The event and its costs were forecast in the Reserve Policy Division budget.
14. The total cost for the event was $43,522.49, allocated as follows:

    Venue hire (National Parks and Wildlife Service)	$1,534.50
    Airfares for selected employers	$4,745.49
    Employee (crew) meals	$230
    Beverages	$4,560
    Food	$14,760
    Design and set-up charges	$4,622.50
    Technical requirements	$6,430
    Guest transport to Fort Denison	$2,800
    Other transport	$942
    Sunday catering surcharge	$2,898

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