Federal MP’s $12k Gold Coast VIP flight: Health Minister Sussan Ley chartered jet for afternoon meeting

EXCLUSIVE: TAXPAYERS have forked out more than $12,000 for Health Minister Sussan Ley to charter a VIP jet to the Gold Coast for an afternoon meeting.

Taxpayers forked out more than $12,000 for Health Minister Sussan Ley to charter a VIP jet to the Gold Coast for an afternoon meeting last year.

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TAXPAYERS forked out more than $12,000 for Health Minister Sussan Ley to charter a VIP jet to the Gold Coast for an afternoon meeting last year.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal Ms Ley and an ­adviser took the RAAF plane from Canberra to attend a Pharmacy Guild conference in Queensland in March.

Ms Ley and her adviser departed Canberra on the private plane at 11.45am and returned shortly after 6pm, spending about 3½ hours in the air.

The Herald Sun understands the afternoon flights on March 17 cost taxpayers about $12,000. Commercial flights for the same route at a similar time start from $400 return in economy and $1200 for business class.

Ms Ley and her adviser departed Canberra on the private plane at 11.45am and returned shortly after 6pm, spending about 3½ hours in the air.

The RAAF uses five aircraft — two 737 Boeing Business Jets and three CL-604 Challengers — for the Prime Minister, the Governor-General, senior politicians and other dignitaries.

But the aircraft are only available to ministers when “commercial travel arrangements are not suitable” due to timing or location.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for Ms Ley said commercial flights were investigated but “not suitable” due to Ms Ley’s tight schedule.

“Before Minister Ley departed Canberra, she was required to attend another ministerial portfolio commitment that morning which had been called at short notice,” she said.

“This meant any commercial flights out of Canberra on that day would have had Minister Ley arrive into Coolangatta after her scheduled commitment with the Pharmacy Guild was due to start.”

A spokeswoman for Sussan Ley said commercial flights were investigated but “not suitable” due to the Health Minister’s tight schedule. Picture: AAP/Lukas Coch

She said it was “imperative” that Ms Ley, who had already missed question time and the final afternoon of the autumn session, “return to Canberra as quickly as possible”.

“All travel undertaken was in accordance with the rules.”

At the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition in Queensland, Ms Ley announced a $50 million trial program targeting medication management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, pharmacy-based screening for diabetes, and improved medications plans for patients.

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