James Campbell: No more checks and balances of ministerial RAAF plane use
A change to the details provided on lists of which government ministers used RAAF planes — and why — has removed important public scrutiny that helped to keep the bastards honest, writes James Campbell.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Until now, ministers who were tempted to use RAAF planes like Ubers had to be careful because they knew that one day they would have to answer to the public for their use of VIP flights.
That’s because four times a year the Defence Department releases the “special purpose” flight schedules, which list who has used the RAAF’s VIP aircraft, where and when they had gone, and who had they had taken with them.
Crucially the logs also listed the tens of thousands spent on “ghost flights”, in which empty planes fly around the country to pick ministers up to take them where they want to go.
Over the years they have revealed plenty of questionable VIP travel by ministers.
It’s a classic case of public scrutiny helping to keep the bastards honest. But now it’s no more – the Albanese government has quietly binned it.
The latest schedule, released without any announcement on Friday afternoon after a FOI by Greens Senator David Shoebridge, isn’t really a schedule at all.
All it lists is how much time ministers spent on flights and how much that cost.
From now on, Australians won’t be able to find out — even months later — where and when the planes they pay for were used by their politicians.
The excuse being given is “security”.
According to documents released to Mr Shoebridge, a security review carried out by the AFP recommended dropping the information because the previous rules failed to protect “pattern of life data for passengers”.
Think about that.
Special purpose flights are meant to be exactly that: special.
Leaving aside the Prime Minister, about whose schedule there isn’t really much mystery, the logs could only reveal “pattern of life data” if some government ministers are using them like Ubers.
And now we’ll never know.
Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.au
Originally published as James Campbell: No more checks and balances of ministerial RAAF plane use
Tributes flow for beloved journalist George Negus
The Prime Minister, former 60 Minutes and ABC colleagues and the nation at large has paid tribute to Australian TV reporter George Negus, who has died at 82.
Problem gamblers cost casino $2m fine
Tens of thousands of Australians have banned themselves from gambling, and Crown Melbourne has been fined after hundreds of self-excluded patrons got into their casino.
Kidman farewells mother at private memorial
Actress Nicole Kidman has farewelled her late mother at a private memorial held in Sydney on Tuesday.
ASX sets new 100-day high
The Australian share has closed at a new record high as investors react positively to an improving economic backdrop and rumours of a Chinese stimulus package.
Bank’s big backflip on rates
An Australian bank has backflipped, hiking rates less than two weeks after offering the lowest fixed mortgages in the country.
Moment Negus took on Thatcher recalled
Former 60 Minutes star reporter George Negus, who has died aged 82, famously took on former British PM Margaret Thatcher in a headline-making interview.