9517 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Ethnic Communities

9517 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Ethnic Communities: What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that the Ministry for Ethnic Communities (the Ministry) has spent $160,637 on external legal costs since 1 July 2021 when the Ministry was created. These costs were all in relation to employment matters. The breakdown is provided below: • 2021/22 - $1,858 • 2022/23 - $33,328 • 2023/24 - $127,550 • 2024/25 - $-4,741 • 2025/26 - $2,642