Defence: Aircraft Travel

Mr Bevis asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 February 2002:

1. Which Minister sought approval for the special purpose flight on 4 February 2001 that required a Falcon Air Force jet to fly from Canberra to Brisbane without passengers, returning to Canberra that day with Senator I. Macdonald, the Hon. I. Macfarlane MP, the Hon. J. Moore MP, the Hon M. Brough MP, the Hon. W. Entsch MP, Mr P. Lindsay MP, the Hon. A. Somlyay MP, Mr P. Connole, Ms L. Fox, Mr R. Mill, Ms S. Pendal, Mr S. Reading, and Mr M. Taylor.
2. What was the purpose of the travel.
3. What was the cost for this flight.

Mrs Vale - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

1. The initial request was received from the office of Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald on behalf of Queensland Senators and Members.
2. The travel was to bring Senators, Members and their staff to Canberra for the first parliamentary sitting week of 2001. This flight was a ‘Cabinet Special' which is a category of usage where two or more ministers use the aircraft. Four ministers travelled on this occasion.
3. The cost for this flight was as follows:
   Canberra-Brisbane, 1.4 hours x $3,080.00 per hour = $4,312.00
   Brisbane-Canberra, 1.5 hours x $3,080.00 per hour = $4,620.00
   Total $8,932.00

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