A former defence minister who once claimed the government shipbuilder couldn't be trusted to build a canoe, could be earning up to $4500 a day to spruik Australian military exports.
David Johnston was appointed the first defence export advocate in April and Defence officials initially told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday they can not reveal his pay cheque because of "commercial in confidence" reasons.
Later, officials said the pay range for eminent consultants was between $2500 and $4500 per day.
They couldn't detail how many days Mr Johnston had worked so far.
Mr Johnston has a one-year contract which can be extended, but the position is part-time.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Officials said his domestic and overseas travel was approved as required.
The hearing was told he had access to an office in Canberra, but no office in his home city of Perth.
Mr Johnston in 2014 famously declared he wouldn't trust the government-owned shipbuilder ASC to build a canoe.
He was swiftly ousted from the defence minister role and then lost his seat in the Senate.
The Turnbull government wants to make the country a top-10 global arms exporter in the next decade.
Australia is now ranked 19th in global defence industry exports and its market is valued between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion a year.
