Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce have gone head-to-head over the deputy prime minister’s VIP flight debacle forward of the deadline for him to launch the small print of the multimillion-dollar journey.
Richard Marles has till Thursday to supply particulars on the dates, prices and locations of each flight he has taken as defence minister since January 2021, after it emerged he spent $3.6 million on flights over the previous two years.
Ms Plibersek stated that she did need to see elevated transparency round how politicians used public cash to journey.
“We have made a commitment to provide this information to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. That is the oversight body that makes sure the parliamentarians, when they travel, are travelling within entitlement,” she instructed Today.
“He is very confident that every flight that he has taken is within entitlement, because of his work.”
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce hit again and stated when he was in Mr Marles’ place he absolutely disclosed his flight prices.
Mr Joyce stated failure to reveal flight posed an enormous “political risk” for defence ministers, together with Richard Marles.
“He has $3.6m of trips. We are wondering if the risk is when we find out that he is playing golf,” Mr Joyce stated.
Ms Plibersek stated that her understanding was the discharge of paperwork detailing politicians flight particulars stopped when Peter Dutton was defence minister, not Richard Marles.
According to information the federal government has not printed up to date particulars of Special Purpose Aircraft flights since August 2021, virtually 18 months in the past.
“Barnaby, you took 65 flights on special purpose aircraft,” Ms Plibersek added.
The former deputy prime minister hit again and stated he had “nothing to hide”.
“I’m pretty sure that every one of my flights you can see,” Mr Joyce stated.
“I have no problem looking at my flights. Where has Richard been going? Escaping the traffic.”
According to journey information lodged with the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, Barnaby Joyce claimed over $80,000 on journey bills between September 2021 and June 2020, and Tanya Plibersek claimed round 50k.
Richard Marles has claimed he didn’t disclose his current journey as defence minister as a result of it posed a safety threat.
Ms Plibersek stated politicians wanted “to be careful” to reveal an everyday sample of journey.
“I think we have to listen to that. That is really quite a serious thing to be told,” she stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
