Foreign Minister defends charter travel

West Australian Minister Julie Bishop chartered an empty taxpayer-funded VIP jet to travel from Canberra to Perth and collect her from a charity event, according to News Corp.

The report says the nine-seater jet was empty as it travelled overnight to Perth in October and then returned to Canberra with Ms Bishop and her partner, David Panton, on board.

Julie Bishop's office has provided a statement saying the charter was required so Ms Bishop could meet ministerial commitments, and there were no commercial flight options.

There is no suggestion in the story that the travel was outside the ministerial guidelines, it also notes former Labor foreign minister Stephen Smith regularly relied on the charter service to get back to Canberra.

According to the story the cost of the flight was estimated at $30,000

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-02/abc-live-blog-wednesday-december-2/6992786



when will they learn

I don't care if it Julie Bishop or Stephen Smith (because many here will care and support one but not the other)...

If these wastes of space cannot do better planning of their time so they have no excuse but to "charter" "$30000" flights then they (any and all of them) should not be in a job at all. Any job.

Being within guidelines? This tells us all loudly and clearly that the guidelines are terribly wrong, lose and were written by those with nothing more than self interest at heart.

Fair bit of controversy following her of late , won't be long until she is hung drawn and quartered . Libs new team song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

What a circus this rabble are.

Phemanderac wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:16am:

If these wastes of space cannot do better planning of their time so they have no excuse but to "charter" "$30000" flights then they (any and all of them) should not be in a job at all. Any job.

Perth to Canberra

My question is how many of these charters do they hire every year? and what exactly is 'ministerial business' that it couldn't wait a few more hours for a commercial flight?

You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"?

I would have thought video conferencing would be common these days.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:52am:

You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"?

Yeah fix it up Smithy we dont want Armpit the dope waffling about this all day!

;D ;D ;D ;D

Just move the capital from Canberra to Perth Johnny.  Problem fixed.  :D

Redmond Neck wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:53am:

I would have thought video conferencing would be common these days.

EXACTLY..

especially when their is a MUST NOT MISS ministerial meet at 7am..

funny I wonder what time it arrived in Canberra???...we have curfew here you know???..

although only for the peasants of course.. ::) ::)

does anyone else enjoy reading their excuses for the BIG spend up???>..

as someone said BRONNYGATE...

come on all you people.. we have to stop protecting our own when it comes to this.....

first class for mistress is no different.. DISGUSTING ..

stop making excuses for them

Redmond Neck wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:54am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 7:52am: You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"? Yeah fix it up Smithy we dont want Armpit the dope waffling about this all day! ;D ;D ;D ;D

now now red.... dont start attacking each other...

we should all be on the same page with this type of thing...

ap is right anyway I think its should be BRONNYGATE>..

but thats just my opinion of course...

Abbott is gone now so these scandals will no longer be reported, the fact that they were pushed so relentlessly before was only for the purposes of smearing Abbott, even the politicians realise that and they can now go back to ordering $30 000 ghost flights without a care in the world.

Some other subjects that were used to smear Abbott and have now completely dropped off the radar are fag marriage and tax on tampons.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:52am:

You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"?

I expected people reading to be able to make the obvious link .... of course, I hadn't allowed for utter stupidity such as yours.

Redmond Neck wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:54am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 7:52am: You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"? Yeah fix it up Smithy we dont want Armpit the dope waffling about this all day! ;D ;D ;D ;D

I think I'll leave it ...he can't be copy / pasting the smelly whilst he's scratching his head

innocentbystander. wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 8:54am:

Abbott is gone now so these scandals will no longer be reported, the fact that they were pushed so relentlessly before was only for the purposes of smearing Abbott, even the politicians realise that and they can now go back to ordering $30 000 ghost flights without a care in the world. Some other subjects that were used to smear Abbott and have now completely dropped off the radar are fag marriage and tax on tampons.

bwahahahahahah!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 7:52am:

You do realise that a plane isn't a helicopter, right? So how can it be "choppergate"?

Nice one, Armpit.

That proves she's not guilty.

Jovial Monk wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 8:59am:

innocentbystander. wrote on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 8:54am: Abbott is gone now so these scandals will no longer be reported, the fact that they were pushed so relentlessly before was only for the purposes of smearing Abbott, even the politicians realise that and they can now go back to ordering $30 000 ghost flights without a care in the world. Some other subjects that were used to smear Abbott and have now completely dropped off the radar are fag marriage and tax on tampons. bwahahahahahah!

Yes, the demented laugh of the mentally retarded.  :(

innocentbystander. wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2015 at 8:38pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 8:59am: innocentbystander. wrote on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 8:54am: Abbott is gone now so these scandals will no longer be reported, the fact that they were pushed so relentlessly before was only for the purposes of smearing Abbott, even the politicians realise that and they can now go back to ordering $30 000 ghost flights without a care in the world. Some other subjects that were used to smear Abbott and have now completely dropped off the radar are fag marriage and tax on tampons. bwahahahahahah! Yes, the demented laugh of the mentally retarded.  :(

you sound like its an area you have lots of experience in

Wouldn't piss on Stephen Smith in a bushfire....

If ministers etc cannot organise their lives to cater for living so far away - maybe we don't even need West Australian MPs and ministers.... waste of time.

What is a Prime Minister or his stand-in doing at a charity event 3000 miles away?  WTS could be the reason for a PM to attend such an event, and therefore  WTS is the 'need' to delegate it at all?  What earthly reason could Malcolm Turnbull have to attend a charity event in Perth?

If Malcolm couldn't attend due to distance, and has to delegate it to a junior - why does the junior need to fly back Golden Shower Class (that's pissing on the public class, for the uneducated)?  Why can't she wait until the next flight in the morning?

Age of Entitlement not over yet?

Kinda obviates the reason to even delegate the deal, doesn't it?

Adios, Muchacha.. and not before time.... got nothing to add to my country as far as I can see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9-Te-DPbSE