Defence: Domestic and Overseas Air Travel

Mr Quick asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 6 December 2004:

1. For the year 2003-2004, what sum was spent by the Minister's department on (a) domestic, and (b) overseas air travel.
2. For the year 2003-2004, what proportion of domestic air travel by employees of the Minister's department was provided by (a) Qantas, (b) Regional Express, and (c) Virgin Blue.
3. For the year 2003-2004, what was the actual expenditure by the Minister's department on domestic air travel provided by (a) Qantas, (b) Regional Express, and (c) Virgin Blue.
4. For the year 2003-2004, what sum was spent by the Minister's department on business class travel on (a) domestic routes, and (b) overseas routes.
5. For the year 2003-2004, what sum was spent by the Minister's department on economy class travel on (a) domestic routes, and (b) overseas routes.
6. For the year 2003-2004, what proportion of the expenditure on air travel by the Minister's department was on the domestic routes (a) Sydney to Canberra, (b) Melbourne to Canberra, (c) Sydney to Melbourne, (d) Sydney to Brisbane, (e) Melbourne to Hobart or Launceston, and (f) Sydney to Perth.
7. For the year 2003-2004, how many employees of the Minister's department had membership of the (a) Qantas Chairman's Lounge, (b) Qantas Club, (c) Regional Express Membership Lounge, and (d) Virgin Blue's Blue Room paid for by the department.

Mrs Kelly - The Minister for Defence has provided the following answers to the honourable member's question:

1. 
   

   Type of Travel	2003-04
   Domestic air travel	$110,148,612.09
   Overseas air travel	$47,495,094.22
   Total	$157,643,706.31

   Note: The above table does not include a rebate amount ($20,953,794.84) that was paid to Defence by Qantas as part of a contracted discount to fares.
2.  
   

   Airline	2003-04
   Qantas (includes QantasLink)	94%
   Regional Express	1.17%
   Virgin Blue	0.24%

   Note: Other airlines make up the balance of 4.59 per cent.
3. 
   

   Airline	2003-04
   Qantas (includes QantasLink)	$92,113,621.40
   Regional Express	$1,140,491.99
   Virgin Blue	$234,695.87

   Note:
   • Other airlines make up the balance of domestic expenditure.
   • Figures are for airfare only as reporting data is not available for taxes and levies.
4. 
   

   Business Class Travel	2003-04
   Domestic routes	$4,452,357.67
   Overseas routes	$25,151,131.63

5. 
   

   Economy Class Travel	2003-04
   Domestic routes	$105,696,254.42
   Overseas routes	$15,346,013.00

   Note: The above Domestic Economy and Business Class Travel spend does not include an overall rebate amount of $20,953,794.84 that was paid to Defence by Qantas as part of a contracted discount to fares.
6. 
   

   Domestic Route	2003-04
   Sydney to Canberra	4.39%
   Melbourne to Canberra	7.46%
   Sydney to Melbourne	5.97%
   Sydney to Brisbane	5.97%
   Melbourne to Hobart	0.79%
   Melbourne to Launceston	0.21%
   Sydney to Perth	7.78%

7. There was no cost to the department; except for the cost of Qantas Club memberships for Australian Public Servant Level 6 and below and the military equivalents if that person travels twelve return trips or more per year. This data is not electronically recorded and not available.

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