Premier explains twin jet use but cost remains a mystery

A high-profile, last-minute inclusion was one reason two jets were needed for a controversial state government regional crime tour, but the names of some other people on the planes have been redacted.

• Editor’s view: Not a good look

The government needed two private jets to zip across Queensland because Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski joined the crime policy convoy at the last minute, according to Premier Steven Miles.

But taxpayers remain in the dark over how much booking the two planes cost, with Mr Miles insisting flying ministers across the state took up just 3 per cent of the government’s annual aircraft budget.

Flight manifests obtained by the Opposition through Right to Information have revealed how many politicians, police officials and other passengers were spread across the two private jets.

Specifically who was on the flight remains a secret, with the government redacting the names of passengers who weren’t ministers or police top brass.

Mr Miles, at budget estimates, confirmed his travel for the five-day cross-Queensland blitz in April had been booked some time in advance.

And by the time Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski had been appointed and joined the trip at the government’s request there was no way to rejig the itinerary to make everyone fit in one plane.

The five-day crime policy tour started on Monday, April 22, the same day cabinet signed-off on Mr Gollschewski’s appointment.

“My office booked my travel, had an itinerary arranged for my travelling party, then at a later date, the police commissioner was appointed,” Mr Miles said.

Premier Steven Miles in budget estimates on Tuesday. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

“He and his staff and his protection would not fit on the plane that I had booked, and they went about making their own travel arrangements as they’re entitled to.”

Taxpayers forked out for the two jets from April 22-26, with Mr Miles zipping between Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, and Rockhampton during that time while the other jet carrying police officials followed closely behind for nearly the entire trip.

Mr Miles also confirmed private photo and videographers were not on the jets in order to help film snippets for a government advertisement.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli alleged one plane would have been enough if one or two people were made to fly commercially.

Information from trip planning site Skyscanner shows there were several direct commercial flights for all routes between Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Hervey Bay and Mackay within 10 minutes of recorded takeoff times for both planes.

But Mr Miles asserted that removing two persons from one leg of the flight would not have changed the requirements for two different itineraries.

Analysis of the flight manifests show Mr Miles made three stops in Townsville over four days during the trip, spending a combined five hours and 17 minutes on ground – less than half of the nearly 13 hours he spent in the air zipping between regional towns.