Labor turns up heat on Peter Dutton for spending $200k on private planes in 6 months
It has been revealed the Opposition Leader charged taxpayers more than $220,000 for chartered plane journeys in just six months.
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The mud-slinging in Canberra has intensified, with Labor labelling Peter Dutton “Private Plane Peter”, after the Opposition Leader charged $200,000 for chartered flights in six months, when cheaper travel options were regularly available.
At the end of an extraordinary week, where the Prime Minister faced claims he solicited Qantas upgrades from former CEO Alan Joyce, the Albanese government has accused Mr Dutton of using “taxpayers’ money to fly around the country … campaigning for himself”.
According to quarterly MP expense data, Mr Dutton booked three individual flights over a 48-hour period in February 2023, worth $32,000 each.
He travelled from Perth to the remote WA towns of Laverton and Leonora to receive feedback on The Voice proposal and to see the consequences of the Albanese government removing the cashless welfare card.
Two further chartered flights in April last year, between Melbourne’s Essendon Airport and Albury and Corowa to Canberra cost almost $19,000.
With the referendum approaching, taxpayers were also slugged for another three private plane bookings by the Opposition Leader in September 2023 between Brisbane, Moree, Dubbo and Newcastle, costing a total of $63,000.
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Mr Dutton told The Daily Telegraph: “We make no apology for visiting regional communities that Mr Albanese has left behind and won’t visit himself to see the impacts of his bad policy decisions. All of Mr Dutton’s travel has been completely open, transparent and in accordance with the rules and guidelines.”
Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres said: “With Peter Dutton, it’s one rule for him and one rule for everyone else.”
“Only Private Plane Peter could be arrogant enough to think it’s fine to spend over $200,000 of taxpayers’ money to fly around the country on private jets campaigning for himself,” Mr Ayres said.
This masthead can also reveal Scott Morrison received an upgrade for his family on Qantas and Fiji Airways flights in June 2019, while he was serving as Prime Minister.
Mr Morrison was asked how the upgrade occurred but did not respond to text messages.
The Qantas saga has had both sides of politics backgrounding journalists about expenses and upgrades enjoyed by their rivals.
Mr Albanese first accused Mr Dutton of “declaring flights with private jets owned by billionaires like Gina Rinehart”.
Subsequent analysis of Mr Albanese’s declarations discovered he had in fact recently been provided a free helicopter ride to have lunch with billionaire, Lindsay Fox.
On Thursday, Mr Dutton was forced to concede he had previously reached out to Ms Rinehart to use her private plane.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie said: “Both sides are as bad as each other. We are in a cost of living crisis.
“No wonder no one has any respect for politicians.”
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Originally published as Labor turns up heat on Peter Dutton for spending $200k on private planes in 6 months
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