Evans, Sen Christopher

Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator ' s question: (1) (a) (i), (ii) and (iii) Yes, Ministers Smith, Snowdon and Parliamentary Secretary Feeney travelled overseas during this period. Minister Clare did not travel during this period. Full details are provided in the attached table. (2) (b) (i), (ii) and (ii) All costs of official overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and advisers are paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Dates, destinations, the purpose and costs of all official overseas travel are tabled in the Parliament every six months in a report titled Parliamentarians' Travel paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation and its supporting information. These reports are now also published to the Finance web site. When available, expenditure for these visits will be provided to Defence by the Department of Finance and Deregulation via regular reporting. Where travel was undertaken via special purpose aircraft (SPA) the Schedule of Special Purpose flights for 1 January to 30 June 2011 will be tabled in December 2011. (1) (b) (iii) Some Ministerial expenses are a direct portfolio cost to Defence and those costs are included under item 1(b)(iii) with any ministerial incidentals. (2) Please refer to the attached table. (3) (i), (ii) and (iii) Costs for additional persons accompanying the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries are stated where known. Costs and details for ministerial advisers are reflected in this column, as are details of non-defence delegates or media that were invited to join the delegation. Mr Snowdon's spouse accompanied the Minister overseas in April 2011 to Europe and Turkey (a Defence visit to Europe and Veterans' Affairs portfolio visit to Turkey). Mr Smith's spouse accompanied the Minister overseas in June 2011 to Europe (Holland and Belgium). Minister/ Parlia ­mentary Secretary Travel undertaken Destination, duration and purpose Ministerial costs (i) Travel (ii) Accomm. (iii) Other Defence delegation Defence personnel costs (i) Travel (ii) Accomm. (iii) Other Advisers and others accompanying Costs (i) Travel (ii) Accomm. (iii) Other Minister for Defence, Mr Smith New Zealand from 9 to 10 February 2011. The Minister attended the annual Australia New Zealand Ministerial Meeting in Auckland on 10 February. The Minister was accompanied by two advisers and five defence personnel. Travel was undertaken by the Minister and staff via Special Purpose Aircraft and defence officials joined the Minister on the return journey. (i) Flights were via Special Purpose Aircraft. (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Secretary 2.Head Military Strategic Commitments 3. First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division. 4. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. 5. Director, New Zealand Section, International Policy Division. (i) $5,625.47 (ii) $3,578.95 (iii) $1,096.07 Two advisers accompanied the Minister. (i) Flights were via Special Purpose Aircraft. (ii) (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence, Mr Smith United Kingdom and Belgium from 8 to 12 March 2011. The Minister visited London enroute to the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels to meet with his counterpart, opposition counterpart and intelligence officials. In Brussels, the Minister attended the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting, the first of three meetings for 2011. The Minister was accompanied by one adviser and five defence personnel. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. (iii) Defence portfolio costs $3352.65 1. Secretary 2. Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 3. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. 4. Aide de Camp to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 5. Signaller. (i) $99,782.31 (ii) $5,992.90 (iii) $3663.57 One adviser accompanied the Minister. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence, Mr Smith East Timor on 15 April 2011. The Minister visited East Timor to meet with his counterpart, government officials and Australian Defence Force personnel. The Minister was accompanied by one adviser and three defence personnel. (i) Flights were via Special Purpose Aircraft (ii) & (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Deputy Commander Headquarters Joint Operations Command. 2. First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division. 3. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. (i) $3,494.62 (ii) $237.51 (iii) $344.41 One adviser accompanied the Minister. (i) flights were via Special Purpose Aircraft (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence, Mr Smith Afghanistan from 23 to 27 April 2011. The Minister visited Afghanistan for calls on his counterpart, to meet officials in Kabul and to visit troops for ANZAC Day. The Minister was accompanied by two advisers and seven defence personnel to Afghanistan. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Chief of the Defence Force. 2. Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Force. 3. Principal Adviser Afghanistan Pakistan, International Policy Division. 4. Director, Military Strategic Commitments. 5. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. 6. Aide de Camp to the Chief of the Defence Force. 7. Signaller. (i) $69,158.57 (ii) $939.35 (being reviewed, an increase of ~$375.74 is expected) (iii) $2,119.91 Two advisers accompanied the Minister. Three media accompanied Mr Smith on this visit, costs for media are not known. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be acquitted by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence, Mr Smith Singapore, Holland and Belgium from 3 to 9 June 2011. Singapore to attend the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit, the Shangri-la Dialogue. The Minister was accompanied by two ministerial advisers and eight defence personnel; Holland to visit government officials. The Minister was accompanied by one ministerial adviser, one defence member and his spouse; and Belgium to attend the NATO/ISAF Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels, the second of three meetings for 2011. The Minister was accompanied by two ministerial advisers, five defence personnel and his spouse. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Singapore: 1. Secretary. 2. Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 3. Principal Adviser Afghanistan Pakistan, International Policy Division. 4. Director General South East Asia, International Policy Division. 5. Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Force. 6. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. 7. Aide de Camp to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 8. Signaller. Holland: 1. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. Brussels: 1. Secretary. 2. Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 3. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence. 4. Aide de Camp to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force. 5. Signaller. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are in the process of being finalised by Defence. The following advisers accompanied the Minister: Singapore: Two advisers. Holland: One adviser. Belgium: Two advisers. Mr Smith was accompanied by his spouse to Holland and Belgium. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence Science and Per ­ sonnel, Mr Snowdon Afghanistan, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates from 21 to 27 January 2011. In Afghanistan Mr Snowdon met key Afghan and coalition partners, troops and civilian personnel. In Bahrain a visit to HMAS Stuart was conducted and in the UAE Mr Snowdon attended the Australia Day Reception in Abu Dhabi. Mr Snowdon was accompanied by one adviser and three defence personnel. Head Military Strategic Commitments joined Mr Snowdon whilst en route to a NATO Meeting in Europe, costs were minimal and are not included. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. 2. Director Afghanistan Operational Policy Support, International Policy Division. 3. Head Military Strategic Commitments. (i) $16,163.77 (ii) $955.20 (iii) $580.91 One adviser accompanied the Minister. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence Science and Per ­ sonnel, Mr Snowdon The United States of America from 6 to 13 March. Mr Snowdon's visit to the United States covered a number of portfolios. In Washington, Mr Snowdon accompanied the Prime Minister to announce the Australian contribution to the Vietnam Veterans' Education Centre. Also in Washington and in New York Mr Snowdon visited counterparts and government officials relating to his Veterans' Affairs and Defence Science and Technology portfolio, and non-government organisations relating to his Indigenous Health portfolio. Mr Snowdon was accompanied by one adviser, and one member of defence. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. (i) $10,767.68 (ii) $1,165.98 (iii) $891.78 One adviser accompanied the Minister. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Minister for Defence Science and Per ­ sonnel, Mr Snowdon France (Defence) and Turkey (Veterans' Affairs) from 17 to 28 April 2011. France from 18 to 20 April for the reinterment of FLTLT Henry 'Lacy' Smith and calls on government officials in France. Minister Snowdon visited Turkey for ANZAC Day Commemoration s, in his role as Minister for Veterans' Affairs. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. 1. Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. (i) $11,635.65 (ii) $2,921.85 (iii) $1,375.28 One adviser accompanied the Minister. Mr Snowdon's spouse accompanied for the full journey. Mr Ian Campbell, Secretary of Veterans' Affairs accompanied the Minister on the full journey. Costs for Mr Campbell are not known. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Parlia ­ mentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney Solomon Islands from 7 to 10 March 2011. Senator Feeney participated in BOSSLIFT, a yearly program which is run by the Reserves for parliamentarians. Senator Feeney was accompanied by one adviser. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. N/A (i) $ N/A (ii) $ N/A (iii) $ N/A One adviser accompanied the Parliamentary Secretary. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Parlia ­ mentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney Solomon Islands from 28 June to 1 July 2011. Senator Feeney visited the Solomon Islands with the Hon Richard Marles MP (Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs) for the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. N/A (i) $ N/A (ii) $ N/A (iii) $ N/A One adviser accompanied the Parliamentary Secretary. (i), (ii), (iii) These costs are yet to be reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation.