Senator Wong: The Special Minister of State has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) No. (2) (a) 18, comprising 8 Blackberries, two mobile phones and eight Next G cards. (b) $10,593.16. This figure relates to costs incurred between 14 September 2010 and 29 November 2010. (3)The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 19 October 2010, the Department tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 October 2010. (4) The cost of official travel for Parliamentarians paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation is reported bi-annually. Travel costs for the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 will be tabled by the Special Minister of State in the last sitting week of June 2011. In addition, between 14 September 2010 and 29 November 2010, the total cost of short-term transport (such as hire cars and taxis) was $3,228.23. Similar costs incurred by Departments on behalf of their Portfolio Ministers should be reported separately by each Department. (5 )A table outlining the cost of travel paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation for the staff of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries is at Attachment A. It should be noted that Departments may have incurred additional staff travel costs directly, and if so, these costs will be reported separately by each Department. Attachment A Cost of travel paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation for employees of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries for the period 14 September to 29 November 2010 Employing Minister or Parliamentary Secretary Title Employee Travel Costs $ The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Minister for Infrastructure and Transport 99,443.33 Senator the Hon Mark Arbib Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic DevelopmentMinister for SportMinister for Social Housing and Homelessness 69,376.43 The Hon Chris Bowen MP Minister for Immigration and CitizenshipMinister for Human Services*Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law* 75,830.42 The Hon David Bradbury MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer 6,219.54 The Hon Tony Burke MP Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and CommunitiesMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry*Minister for Sustainable Population* 91,793.85 The Hon Mark Butler MP Minister for Mental Health and AgeingParliamentary Secretary for Health* 43,339.54 The Hon Anthony Byrne MP Parliamentary Secretary for Trade*Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister* 2,263.16 Senator the Hon Kim Carr Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research 101,070.38 The Hon Jason Clare MP Minister for Defence MaterielParliamentary Secretary for Employment* 43,281.42 Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations 25,313.88 The Hon Julie Collins MP Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services 22,959.36 The Hon Greg Combet AM MP Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 54,522.31 Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital EconomyMinister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity 101,149.24 The Hon Simon Crean MP Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local GovernmentMinister for the ArtsMinister for Education*Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations*Minister for Social Inclusion* 72,705.99 The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 15,357.24 The Hon Justine Elliot MP Parliamentary Secretary for TradeMinister for Ageing* 26,649.91 The Hon Kate Ellis MP Minister for Employment Participation and ChildcareMinister for the Status of WomenMinister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth*Minister for Sport* 58,610.59 The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP Minister for TradeMinister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs*Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy* 48,693.27 Senator the Hon Chris Evans Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace RelationsMinister for Immigration and Citizenship* 73,035.57 Senator the Hon Don Farrell Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water 31,467.17 Senator the Hon John Faulkner Minister for Defence* 850.70 Senator the Hon David Feeney Parliamentary Secretary for Defence 8,133.42 The Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP Minister for Resources and EnergyMinister for Tourism 86,315.67 The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and YouthMinister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts* 17,773.02 The Hon Julia Gillard MP Prime Minister 370,772.04 The Hon Gary Gray AO MP Special Minister of StateSpecial Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia* 66,348.31 The Hon Alan Griffin MP Minister for Defence Personnel*Minister for Veterans' Affairs* 1,591.73 The Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestryParliamentary Secretary for Defence Support*Parliamentary Secretary for Water* 5,593.97 The Hon Catherine King MP Parliamentary Secretary for Health and AgeingParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport 17,949.06 Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and ForestrySpecial Minister of State* 59,451.60 Senator the Hon Kate Lundy Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime MinisterParliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship 11,832.36 The Hon Jenny Macklin MP Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 63,385.62 The Hon Richard Marles MP Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island AffairsParliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry* 25,714.07 The Hon Robert McClelland MP Attorney-General 46,794.08 Senator the Hon Jan McLucas Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers 17,468.57 The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP Minister for Home AffairsMinister for JusticeMinister for Privacy and Freedom of Information 70,367.31 The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP Minister for Human ServicesMinister for Social InclusionMinister for Housing*Minister for the Status of Women* 15,268.97 The Hon Nicola Roxon MP Minister for Health and Ageing 64,514.54 The Hon Kevin Rudd MP Minister for Foreign Affairs 151,650.56 Senator the Hon Nick Sherry Minister for Small BusinessMinister Assisting on DeregulationMinister Assisting the Minister for TourismAssistant Treasurer* 58,412.57 The Hon Bill Shorten MP Minister for Financial Services and SuperannuationAssistant TreasurerParliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services*Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction* 63,010.69 The Hon Stephen Smith MP Minister for DefenceMinister for Foreign Affairs and Trade* 113,195.60 The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Veterans' AffairsMinister for Defence Science and PersonnelMinister for Indigenous HealthMinister for Indigenous Health, Rural and RegionalHealth and Regional Service Delivery* 43,419.02 Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector* 135.72 The Hon Wayne Swan MP Treasurer 134,111.41 The Hon Lindsay Tanner Minister for Finance and Deregulation* 696.80 Senator the Hon Penny Wong Minister for Finance and DeregulationMinister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water* 60,246.08 The figures in the above table reflect the cost of travel, including domestic and overseas airfares, car transport and Travelling and Motor Vehicle Allowances for all employees of each Minister or Parliamentary Secretary employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MOP(S) ACT), and includes both personal and electorate employees. The figures do not include travel on Special Purpose Aircraft which is administered by the Department of Defence. As employees are able to lodge claims for Travelling Allowance up to 60 days after completion of the relevant travel, and allowing time for ticket charges and refunds, the total cost of travel may not be reflected in the table above. However, the information provided is correct as at 8 December 2010. * Role ceased on 14 September 2010 when the new Ministry was sworn in. Please note that a Direction made under the MOP(S) Act defers the termination of staff for a period of two weeks after an Office Holder ceases to hold office. Staff are eligible for limited official travel at Government expense during this period.