Australian Politics Forum - Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !

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Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Jan 11^th, 2019 at 10:07am

And what was achieved for all the money spent ?

Key points:

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

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

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-s...

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.

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whiteknight Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 8479 melbourne Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #1 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 10:38am He was on a mission for the tax cuts to the big end of town.
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Aussie

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Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Reply #2 - 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?

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whiteknight Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 8479 melbourne Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #3 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 10:41am He was on a mission for the tax cuts to the big end of town.
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buzzanddidj Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14227 Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #4 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am 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 ?
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greggerypeccary

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Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Reply #5 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 11:37am

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".

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Captain Nemo Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 11460 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #6 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 11:49am Seems very extravagant even for the Cuban cigar smoking Senator ... Perhaps it was one with a soupçon of truffles?
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Bam

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Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Reply #7 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 12:22pm

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... Angry

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You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to hold opinions that you can defend through sound, reasoned argument.

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buzzanddidj

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Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Reply #8 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 12:55pm

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/508...

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

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'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 59720 Here Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #9 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 9:55pm 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
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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 59720 Here Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #10 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 9:58pm 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.
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stunspore Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 5097 Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #11 - Jan 11^th, 2019 at 10:02pm Now, now, a good coalition supporter would support whatever stupidity the coalition politicians would do.
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Armchair_Politician

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Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket !
Reply #12 - Jan 12^th, 2019 at 7:09am

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

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".

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

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cods Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 88048	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #13 - Jan 12^th, 2019 at 7:17am 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..
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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 59720 Here Gender:	Re: Mathias Cormanns $37,000 Junket ! Reply #14 - Jan 12^th, 2019 at 8:35am 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.
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