Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Ministerial Travel MINISTERIAL TRAVEL The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council MINISTERIAL TRAVEL 136 The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (24 November 2010) (First Session). Can the Minister for Education state— 1.	What was the total cost of any overseas trips undertaken by the minister and staff since 2 December 2009 up to 1 December 2010? 2.	What are the names of the officers who accompanied the minister on each trip? 3.	Was any officer given permission to take private leave as part of the overseas trip? 4.	Was the cost of each trip met by the minister's office budget, or by the minister's department or agency? 5.	(a)	What cities and locations were visited on each trip; and (b)	What was the purpose of each visit? The Hon. I.K. HUNTER Legislative Council Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion Minister for Social Housing Minister for Disabilities Minister for Youth Minister for Volunteers MINISTERIAL TRAVEL The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): The Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development has been advised: On 11 June 2010 to 22 June 2010 the former Minister for Education visited Italy and the United Kingdom. From 11 to 16 June the minister visited Rome, Bologna and Reggio Emilia in Italy with the objective of examining the two most significant approaches to early childhood development in Italy—Montessori and Reggio Emilia. From 16 to 21 June the minister visited the United Kingdom, principally London, with the objective of visiting sites with strong early childhood and school practices, and to meet with education researchers and policy makers to discuss their perspectives on recent United Kingdom education policy. The minister flew to Italy via Perth to attend the MCEECDYA meeting on 10 June 2010. The flights to Perth are covered in the total cost figure. The minister was accompanied by Mr Simon Blewett, Chief of Staff and Mr Jadynne Harvey, Ministerial Adviser. The minister was also accompanied by Mr Nicola Sasanelli, Special Envoy, Higher Education, Research and Technology Transfer (Europe) on the Italy portion of the trip. The total cost of flights, accommodation and expenses for the trip was $43,654.75. Part of the cost of the trip was met from the Minister's Parliamentary Travel Allowance and the remainder of the cost of the trip was met from the minister's office budget, save that the Department of Premier and Cabinet provided for Mr Sasanelli's accommodation and expenses, and contributed towards the costs of Mr Sasanelli's flights.