And what was achieved for all the money spent ?

Key points:
[list bull-blackball]

Mathias Cormann was the sole passenger on the flight from Canberra to Perth, via Adelaide

[list bull-blackball]

The Minister went to South Australia to lobby crossbenchers on a now-abandoned corporate tax plan

[list bull-blackball]

His office argues it was within the rules, which require consideration of value for public money


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-11/mathias-cormann-spent-37k-on-flights-to-spruik-tax-plan/10697652


Quote:

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann booked solo $37,000 flights home so he could spruik tax plan Finance Minister Mathias Cormann booked flights costing $37,000 so he could spruik the Government's personal tax cuts and lobby crossbenchers for its corporate tax plan. On June 22 — the day after the Parliament agreed to personal tax cuts last year — Senator Cormann made a choice to perform media duties in Canberra in the morning then visit Adelaide on the way back to Perth. No commercial flights were available to meet these requirements, so he booked flights on a CL604 Challenger defence jet, attracting a cost 20 times the price of the ticket he would use to get back to Canberra two days later. A spokesperson for Senator Cormann said "use of the special purpose aircraft was approved in the appropriate way to facilitate official business in Adelaide in transit from Canberra back to Perth in between two parliamentary sitting weeks". Government needed support for corporate tax breaks The $37,000 cost is made up of fuel, landing fees and airport handling charges for the flights to Adelaide, then on to Perth, as well as the plane's return to Canberra. A spokesperson for Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne, who is responsible for the aircraft, said "when considering the use of [Special Purpose Aircraft] to enable ministers to adequately perform their duties, consideration is given to the availability and suitability of commercial travel". "In circumstances where commercial alternatives are readily available, the most efficient means of transport will be utilised and the [Special Purpose Aircraft] may not be used," the spokesman said. The law governing the scheme requires the minister for defence to "not approve a use of special purpose aircraft that would not provide value for money in the circumstances, taking into account the need to conduct the relevant member's parliamentary business". At the time, the Government needed support from the Senate for its business tax plan, which has since been abandoned. That plan would have reduced the tax rate for large companies from 30 per cent to 25 per cent.

He was on a mission for the tax cuts to the big end of town.   :(

This really sucks.  What happened to normal domestic flights?  What happened to a telephone call, a www live link?  Just bullshit, Cormann!

I do have a question.  Who paid the $37,000.00 and to whom?  Was it actually paid, or is this the estimated cost of using a Defence Force jet.  Would it have been sitting idle and the pilots doing nothing but on pay if he had not taken the ride with them?

He was on a mission for the tax cuts to the big end of town.   :(

Just how much more ritualistic self- inflicted flaying does this Government think it's worthy of ?

With just months out from a Federal Election ?

How many seats are they aiming to LOSE ?

Aussie wrote on Jan 11^th, 2019 at 10:41am:

This really sucks.  What happened to normal domestic flights?  What happened to a telephone call, a www live link?  Just bullshit, Cormann! I do have a question.  Who paid the $37,000.00 and to whom?  Was it actually paid, or is this the estimated cost of using a Defence Force jet.  Would it have been sitting idle and the pilots doing nothing but on pay if he had not taken the ride with them?

"The $37,000 cost is made up of fuel, landing fees and airport handling charges".

Seems very extravagant even for the Cuban cigar smoking Senator ...

Perhaps it was one with a soupçon of truffles?  ;)

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0b/18/a1/a4/the-junket-is-beneath.jpg

Quote:

On June 22 — the day after the Parliament agreed to personal tax cuts last year — Senator Cormann made a choice to perform media duties in Canberra in the morning then visit Adelaide on the way back to Perth. No commercial flights were available to meet these requirements, so he booked flights on a CL604 Challenger defence jet, attracting a cost 20 times the price of the ticket he would use to get back to Canberra two days later.

The princess couldn't spend a night in Adelaide on the way back to Perth?

Talk about self-entitled...  >:(

Trying to defend the INDEFENSIBLE


Is it cheaper for MPs to fly VIP jets, as Christopher Pyne claims?

Nov 2013, 3:10pm


The use of a VIP jet to bring a group of Western Australian Liberal MPs and members of their staff and families to Canberra for the opening of Federal Parliament has reignited a debate over politicians' travel entitlements.

While the VIP jet cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, Government frontbencher Christopher Pyne says it may have been cheaper than commercial travel.

The verdict

Mr Pyne says the VIP flight from Perth to Canberra was "probably cheaper" than Qantas or Virgin.

Comparable commercial fares would have cost a maximum of $56,260 whereas the cost of sending the VIP jet to Perth would have been a minimum of $140,483 before other costs are added.

Mr Pyne's claim is incorrect.



https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/is-it-cheaper-for-mps-to-fly-vip-jets/5086058





And let us not forget, it was Prime Minister Howard that drew up the template for these egotistical, self indulgent perks - at the taxpayers expense

It was he who took a VIP jet to and from "work" during parliamentary sitting times

All because the he fancied more grandiose Kirribilli - with its sweeping harbour views - over a "dank" Lodge, in our comparatively dull federal capital

Howard has been our ONLY Prime Minister - who believed The Lodge was just not good enough for him and his wife

A far cry, from his long forgotten, working class, Earlwood roots

Seen a report that said there were 200 requests for flights like this in that 6 month period. Mathias was the only one carrying a single person.

Did we pay up to $40,000 X 200 ? Assuming an average cost of $25,000 it would be a $1 Million

Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !

Hard to believe that they even try to defend this sort of thing. Pretending that it is ok just makes it worse.

Now, now, a good coalition supporter would support whatever stupidity the coalition politicians would do.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 11^th, 2019 at 11:37am:

Aussie wrote on Jan 11th, 2019 at 10:41am: This really sucks.  What happened to normal domestic flights?  What happened to a telephone call, a www live link?  Just bullshit, Cormann! I do have a question.  Who paid the $37,000.00 and to whom?  Was it actually paid, or is this the estimated cost of using a Defence Force jet.  Would it have been sitting idle and the pilots doing nothing but on pay if he had not taken the ride with them? "The $37,000 cost is made up of fuel, landing fees and airport handling charges".

Plus paying crew onboard the aircraft and maintenance would also be factored into the cost.

its a bit rich even so..... even more so as it didnt change anything...

its the fact they think its their ENTITLEMENT  that really pings me off...

Anning is a classic example of the wrong people being in the wrong job..

I pretty much over it.....if the bastards want my vote  a few changes need to be made.. >:( >:( >:(

All the partisipants to this meeting we in Canberra on Friday and also the following Monday, the cross benchers who attended claim that there was no reason for them to not meet in Canberra and it was not an urgent need for the get together. Nothing was achieved by the meeting.

Interesting that News Ltd seem to be the only outlet to not cover this story, In the conservative press it didn't happen.

Please advise if I am wrong - I could find no story there.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/37000-for-a-single-day-of-ministerial-travel-its-all-within-the-rules-says-the-government/news-story/5d3c37414d4672a929b836610c317f1a



the govt says it was within the guide lines..

whatever that means..

cods wrote on Jan 12^th, 2019 at 9:17am:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/37000-for-a-single-day-of-ministerial-travel-its-all-within-the-rules-says-the-government/news-story/5d3c37414d4672a929b836610c317f1a the govt says it was within the guide lines.. whatever that means..

It is pay walled,  it would seem to be supporting the spend but there is a story about it which was more than I found.

cods wrote on Jan 12^th, 2019 at 9:17am:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/37000-for-a-single-day-of-ministerial-travel-its-all-within-the-rules-says-the-government/news-story/5d3c37414d4672a929b836610c317f1a the govt says it was within the guide lines.. whatever that means..

Predictable of the Daily Telegraph to be covering this from the government's point of view. That looks awfully like a followup. Now link an earlier News Limited article that is more critical of the travel.

.

---

It's a waste of money but it's not exactly a junket.

SHY eating oysters with her daughter on a whale watching trip is a junket.

If the following statement is true why hasn't Matty called out this behaviour....Avoiding threads about Coalition corruption is not showing no fear or favour dickhead???


matty wrote on Jan 13^th, 2019 at 12:09pm:

The bottom line here is that I do call out both sides for this kind of behaviour. No fear no favour.

::) ::) ::)

All I can say about Cormanns reason for the trip via Adelaide is it doesnt pass the pub test!