Wong, Sen Penny

Senator Wong: The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) (a) The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency's (and its predecessor the Department of Climate Change) total hospitality spend from 24 November 2007 to 30 June 2010 was $200,138 comprising: 295 Australian based events costing $155,390; and 19 International events costing $44,748. The Department is unable to provide further details of each event as it would involve an unreasonable diversion of resources.(b) Details of the alcohol component of any official hospitality are not recorded separately. Provision of these details would involve an extensive manual process and therefore, in the context of existing workloads, an unreasonable diversion of resources. (2) (a) Details of events for each Minister to 30 June 2010 are as follows: Date Location Purpose Cost Minister's Office 22 July 2009 Parliament House NGO consultations $99 4 August 2009 Parliament House Meeting with Kreab Gavin Anderson $33 21 September 2009 Parliament House Supplies purchased for catering to thank Ministerial staff $85 22 October 2009 Parliament House NGO Round table $99 9 December 2009 Restaurant 98 Media Breakfast $168 26 February 2010 Parliament House Committee meeting and lunch $25 10 March 2010 Parliament House Bilateral meeting with the Indonesian State Minister for the Environment – Professor Gusti Muhammad Hatta $125 12 March 2010 Parliament House NGO Debrief Copenhagen $87 3 June 2010 Parliament House Meeting with Coasts and Climate Change Council $28 Minister Assisting's Office 23 March 2010 Parliament House Reimbursement of working lunch $183 (b) Details of the alcohol component of any official hospitality are not recorded separately. Provision of these details would involve an extensive manual process and therefore, in the context of existing workloads, an unreasonable diversion of resources.