Commonwealth Departments and Agencies: Costs of Central Functions

Mr Fletcher asked:

What are the costs of central functions for each department and agency of the Australian Public Service (including finance, human resources, information technology, and other functions that support the work of the department or agency as a whole) in dollar terms, and as a proportion of total expenditure for each department and agency.

Mr Swan responded:

The Department of Finance and Deregulation does not currently comprehensively or systematically track the information requested by the Member for Bradfield. The task of compiling the information requested would require a significant diversion of resources both in individual agencies and in the Department of Finance and Deregulation, and would be an unreasonable diversion of resources across Government.