A member of parliament questions the Deputy Premier about credit card expenditure within their ministerial office. The Deputy Premier provides the requested information and defends their spending by comparing it favorably to previous administrations and highlighting their commitment to accountability.

AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 February 2003
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Energy

QuestionView source ↗

(b) the credit limit on the card; and (c) the total monthly expenditure for each person allocated a card?
(c) the total monthly expenditure for each person allocated a card?
It should be noted that credit card expenditure is acquitted against my Ministerial office budget global allocation of $1.475 million in 2001-02 and $1.457 million in 2002-03. This is considerably less than the actual expenditure by the previous Deputy Premier of $1.75 million in 2000-01 and $1.8 million in 1999-2000. I also draw the Members attention to the fact that the level of detail provided in answer to her question is far in excess of information provided by the previous Government. Indeed, in answer to a question on notice dated 9 March 1999, the Member, then Minister for Environment and Labour Relations, declined to provide annual totals for credit cards used by her Ministerial office, stating - I am not prepared to devote the considerable resources which would be required to provide the information sought. However if the member has a specific question I will endeavour to provide the information. I trust the Member will acknowledge the accountability, and relative frugality, of the current Government.
I also draw the Members attention to the fact that the level of detail provided in answer to her question is far in excess of information provided by the previous Government. Indeed, in answer to a question on notice dated 9 March 1999, the Member, then Minister for Environment and Labour Relations, declined to provide annual totals for credit cards used by her Ministerial office, stating - I am not prepared to devote the considerable resources which would be required to provide the information sought. However if the member has a specific question I will endeavour to provide the information. I trust the Member will acknowledge the accountability, and relative frugality, of the current Government.
I am not prepared to devote the considerable resources which would be required to provide the information sought. However if the member has a specific question I will endeavour to provide the information. I trust the Member will acknowledge the accountability, and relative frugality, of the current Government.
I trust the Member will acknowledge the accountability, and relative frugality, of the current Government.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
26 June 2003
Response time
121 days
Please find attached the information requested by the Member.
It should be noted that credit card expenditure is acquitted against my Ministerial office budget global allocation of $1.475 million in 2001-02 and $1.457 million in 2002-03. This is considerably less than the actual expenditure by the previous Deputy Premier of $1.75 million in 2000-01 and $1.8 million in 1999-2000.
I also draw the Members attention to the fact that the level of detail provided in answer to her question is far in excess of information provided by the previous Government. Indeed, in answer to a question on notice dated 9 March 1999, the Member, then Minister for Environment and Labour Relations, declined to provide annual totals for credit cards used by her Ministerial office, stating -
I am not prepared to devote the considerable resources which would be required to provide the information sought. However if the member has a specific question I will endeavour to provide the information.
I trust the Member will acknowledge the accountability, and relative frugality, of the current Government.

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