Minister for Defence and Parliamentary Secretary: Travel

Senator Johnston asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 13 August 2009:

1. (a) Did the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary travel overseas on official business; if so: (i) to what destination, (ii) for what duration, and (iii) for what purpose; and (b) what was the total cost of: (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, and (iii) any other expenses.
2. (a) Which departmental officers accompanied the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary on each trip; and (b) for these officers, what was the total cost of: (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, and (iii) any other expenses.
3. (a) Apart from departmental officers, who else accompanied the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary on each trip; and (b) for each of these people, what was the total cost of: (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, and (iii) any other expenses.

Senator Faulkner - The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:

1.  
   1. Yes.
   2.  
      1. to ii.   In relation to those parts of the question that request information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers and advisers, I refer the Senator to the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation.  The report is tabled biannually and provides details of the dates and purpose of the travel and the countries visited.  Additional information is also available on ministerial web sites, media releases and media reports.
      3. Some Ministerial expenses are a direct portfolio cost to Defence and those costs are reflected under item 1(b)(iii).
2. to 3. Please refer to the attached table.
3. (i) to (iii)   Ministerial advisers’ overseas travel, accommodation and expenses are also paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation and are in reflected in the report tabled biannually for Parliamentarians’ travel costs.

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