Cormann, Dutton’s $60,000 domestic RAAF flights
August 2018
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann billed taxpayers $60,000 for RAAF flights to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Scott Morrison following the leadership spill against Malcolm Turnbull.
As the ABC reported, after the 2018 spill both flew on routes heavily serviced by commercial airlines, contrary to parliamentary rules that stipulate politicians should take commercial flights where possible.
Mr Dutton flew from the Amberley RAAF base near Brisbane to Canberra on the Sunday following the spill. He was sworn in again as Home Affairs Minister on the Monday, then flew to the Gold Coast later that day.
The flights cost $25,396 in total, including the trips with no passengers to fetch the CL604 Challenger aircraft from, and return it to, Canberra. The ABC report Dutton declined to later comment bt said at the time “the swearing-in today will allow me to travel to the Gold Coast to attend the Five Country Ministerial meeting”.
Senator Cormann’s flight from Perth to Canberra on the Monday cost $1,823. After being sworn in, he flew back to Perth on a CL604 Challenger. Sending the aircraft to Perth and back to Canberra cost $37,720. He held a press conference in Perth the following day. A spokesperson said: “On 28 August Senator Cormann was required both in Canberra and back in Perth later that day.” The spokesman said no commercial flight options were available “to accommodate all these commitments”.