We have touch down! Full cost of Premier’s twin-jet jaunt FINALLY revealed
The cost that taxpayers forked out for two private jets to zip Steven Miles, the Police Commissioner and their respective entourages during a five-day media blitz has at last been revealed.
QLD Politics
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Taxpayers forked out nearly $170,000 for two private jets to zip Premier Steven Miles, the Police Commissioner and their respective entourages across Queensland on a five-day crime policy media blitz.
The cost of hiring the two planes was finally revealed by Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski at budget estimates, but the specific people on each flight remains a mystery.
It has been confirmed Barron River MP Craig Crawford and Cairns MP Michael Healy hitched a ride from Cairns to Townsville on one of the jets for an announcement about police helicopters.
The eight-seat Embraer Phenom 300 used by Mr Miles cost $83,150 for the trip, while the Police Commissioners Cessna Citation CJ2+ cost $84,640 for the same time period — equating to about $16,700 a day per jet.
Analysis of flight manifests, obtained by the Opposition through RTI, show the Premier’s jet effectively cost $6581 for every hour it was in the air, while the Police Commissioner’s plane cost $5960 for every hour it was in the air.
Mr Gollschewski confirmed it was him, as interim Commissioner, who told the government they needed to find a charter flight because government’s fleet was needed for “operational reasons”.
“There was some initial discussion around other aircraft (owned by the government) but I said they could not use operational aircraft for this type of travel, so the only option available was chartered,” he said.
Taxpayers forked out for the two jets between April 22 and April 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 Gollschewski said he had contemplated the bang for buck of the double jet convoy following the furore, but also argued it was important the Commissioner was “involved” in government announcements related to policing and also for him to travel.
“It’s really incumbent upon me to go to regional areas and not just be trapped in the southeast corner. You know, I’ve been criticised already for not getting out and about enough,” he said.
“It was not until this week that I was aware of what the total cost of that was.”
Earlier in the week Mr Miles argued the government needed two luxury jets to zip across Queensland because Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski joined the crime policy convoy at the last minute.
The five-day crime policy tour started on Monday, April 22, the same day cabinet signed-off on Mr Gollschewski’s appointment.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie slammed the government for failing to cough up the information on the jets until Friday.
“Steven Miles must provide Queenslanders answers about his dual luxury jet scandal,” he said.
“What we’ve seen in Budget Estimates this week is more proof Steven Miles will desperately do and say anything to cling to power, and can’t be trusted
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