Morrrison government charged taxpayers more than $2.1m to charter VIP jets

The federal government charged taxpayers more than $2.1m to charter VIP jets in the first half of last year. Nearly half of that was spent on the RAAF taxi service for MPs

ScoMo on Shark One.

It’s just plane fun if you’re a politician! The federal government charged taxpayers more than $2.1m to charter VIP jets around the country during the first half of 2020. That’s according to Defence’s latest Special Purpose Flight reports for January 1 to June 29, 2020.

Nearly half of that price tag was spent on the RAAF taxi service for MPs, first deployed on March 22 last year during the original COVID lockdown.

There were 138 bespoke Canberra Bubble™ trips — flying pollies from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, the Gold Coast, Darwin, Armidale, East Sale, Albury, Devonport, Alice Springs, Launceston and Rockhampton — costing Quiet Australians $1.05m across four months.

To give you an idea of the new normal Mile High Club … taxpayers were charged $10,164 for an empty plane to pick up Bob Katter in Townsville on May 10, 2020; then $2541 to stop in Cairns for Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch, plus another $11,435 to deliver the pair to Parliament House.

But there can only be one Top Gun.

Scott Morrison was the most frequent flyer, racking up 89 flights at a cost of $260,202 between January and June 2020. If anything, it took a pandemic to keep Scotty out of the skies. Before airlines were grounded, the Prime Minister took 70 flights for $216k.

PM Scott Morrison spent "at least $100,000" on the fighter jet photoshoot, Anthony Albanese says.
"He had the Top Gun sound track going with his marketing spin ... and looked pretty silly, frankly." #auspolpic.twitter.com/7fmWFdUs6r

— Isabelle Lane (@isabellelane) March 2, 2021

His wing woman, Linda Reynolds, was the second most airborne. The Defence Minister was cleared for take off 28 times across the six-month period and a bill of $348k.

Health Minister Greg Hunt charged just under $100k for his 15 trips and Josh Frydenberg $99k for 31.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was lower down the pecking order, with just nine RAAF regional outings ($28k).

Former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann was transported across the Nullarbor eight times ($137k), burning fuel as he counted beans for the pandemic budget.

Then Trade Minister Simon Birmingham was transported between Adelaide and the ACT four times ($44k); Brisbane-based Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton three times ($17k); SA Social Services Minister Anne Ruston three times ($17k); Bundaberg Resources Minister Keith Pitt also thrice ($21k); Apple Isle Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck twice ($8k); and Perthonality Attorney-General Christian Porter twice ($32k).

The cheapest flight? ScoMo and BigMac’s trip to Tumut, $185 each way.

The most exxy was Birmo’s return home from Suva, a sweet $20,752 for a five-hour flight with the minister and one adviser.

Roll out the red carpet.

Plane speaking

While we’re flying high, it’s worth mentioning the aerodynamics of Governor-General David Hurley. He clocked up 61 flights in the first six months of 2020 at a cost of $285,079.

The well-travelled G-G and his karaoke loving wife, Linda Hurley, went on a six-day tour of Singapore, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Jordan in January 2020, before diplomacy went digital on Zoom.

Those VIP flights came in at a humble $154k.

The Hurleys.

Petal to the metal

Liberal MP Dave Sharma was passing out dahlias to women at Edgecliff train station on Monday morning, in Sydney’s well-heeled eastern suburbs.

Dave Sharma hands out flowers.

We’re told the member for Wentworth hand-delivered 150 purple flowers around his electorate in Double Bay and Paddington for International Women’s Day, but not everyone was keen on the stem service.

“Flowers are nice, but what would be better is if you could convince your colleagues to act on respect at work, close the gender pay gap & reverse your plan to axe the family court,” Labor’s shadow minister for women Tanya Plibersek tweeted.

This arvo ⁦@DaveSharma⁩ and I debriefed Those Flowers on ⁦@PatsKarvelas⁩. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/dfwOOhkZjT

— Anika Wells MP (@AnikaWells) March 8, 2021

When Strewth reached Sharma, he assured us there wasn’t a single negative reaction on the ground. “IWD is a day that is meant to celebrate women’s achievement,” he said. “We should be able to do this, while at the same time recognising there is still much to do, and a long way to travel to reach genuine equality.”

Why dahlias? They were the only in season flower he could find that matched the IWD’s colours.

Trying to nip the negativity in the bud, Sharma said the blooms were for everyone.

“I didn’t hand them out saying ‘Are you a Liberal voter?’ first,” before adding he’d happily do it again next year.

“I know the merchants of misery on Twitter accuse me of crimes against the Zeitgeist, but the dahlias brought some joy and smiles to many female faces — which is all they were intended to do!”

So the international woman in this photo is my friend. This is her response: https://t.co/5ri85LyoaQpic.twitter.com/lDvrAYUJfm

— Alex Lee (@alex_c_lee) March 8, 2021

God Save the Queen

Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite is ready to overthrow the crown after Harry and Meghan’s sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.

The royal-tea spilt by the Sussexes on “the Firm” include a concern about “how dark” baby Archie would be; Harry living off Princess Diana’s estate after Meg-xit (or perhaps Meg-xile); Kate Middleton making Meghan cry before the couple married in secret (three days ahead of their televised wedding); and a gender reveal — it’s a girl!

Liveshot out of Buckingham Palace of the Royals watching #OprahMeghanHarry right now. pic.twitter.com/uwruMp8wlq

— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) March 8, 2021

“It’s a right royal mess that shows just how out of touch the British monarchy is with our community,” Thistlethwaite suggested to Strewth on the palace’s game of thrones.

“If Harry and Meghan can cut ties with the British monarchy, why can’t the Australian people?

“An Australian republic isn’t about the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew or anyone in their family who are in line to become our next head of state. We are a proud, confident nation and we should be able to express this with our own head of state.”

Journo William Summers wins best take on the tell-all. “If you think the royals will be sweating over the Harry & Meghan interview, you’re wrong. They have a medical condition.”

In an interview that blows open the secrets of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan have revealed – in excruciating detail – the reasons they split from the Firm. | @AngelaBishop & @PhoebeBowdenpic.twitter.com/3HLC7I5S0l

— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) March 8, 2021

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