Senate debates

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Questions on Notice

Foreign Affairs: Overseas Delegations (Question No. 547)

Photo of David JohnstonDavid Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011:

For each calendar year, from 2005 to 2010, how many overseas delegations were sponsored by the department, including:

  (a)   which countries the delegations were from;

  (b)   the names and positions of each delegation member; and

  (c)   the total cost to the Government of these delegations.

Photo of Stephen ConroyStephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | | Hansard source

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

To provide the detailed information sought on overseas delegation visits would entail a significant diversion of resources requiring input from all departments and agencies and all overseas posts. I do not consider the additional work can be justified.