Richard Marles runs up $3.6 million VIP flight billThe Deputy PM has run up a VIP flight bill of $3.6 million after previously mocking former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s helicopter trip.
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and wont say where he went
which leads one to think his trips were to his comrades
in China more than a few times
these comrades, the labor gang
just dont understand
it is not their money they are spending
it is the hard earned taxes of every Australian
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https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...l/news-story/8e6b2d0bb661da01f36b6f1e9dee63eeDeputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has run up a VIP flight bill of $3.6 million after previously mocking former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop for taking a single helicopter trip from Melbourne to Geelong.
The Defence Minister’s globetrotting adventures have been laid bare in Defence Department documents that were only released following a freedom-of-information request.
But the government is refusing to say where he went or who he took on the plane as guests, citing “security issues” despite the fact the flights took place up to a year ago and the material was previously published for decades.
The Albanese government now claims that the material can no longer be published for safety reasons, after a review that was quietly initiated by the Morrison government after it was repeatedly embarrassed by the VIP flight logs being published online — including the scandal that ended the career of Ms Bishop.
A spokesperson for Mr Marles said she would not be revealing where he had travelled on the $3 million-plus worth of taxpayer-funded flights.
“All travel conducted by the Deputy Prime Minister either in his role as Defence Minister or as Acting Prime Minister is in accordance with the relevant guidelines and security procedures,” she said.
Mr Marles’ office noted that the Special Purpose Aircraft (SPA) Guidelines for disclosure had been revised by Defence, as a result of a security review led by the Australian Federal Police.
The review has found that “the Special Purpose Aircraft Guidelines are not currently fit-for-purpose in regards to protecting security sensitivities, including demonstrating a protection of pattern-of-life data for passengers”.
Mr Marles’ high-flying habits have even involved spending double the amount the
Prime Minister spent in the final quarter of 2022 when he ran up a stunning $936,604 bill between October and December alone.
This year alone, Mr Marles has run up a VIP flight bill for private RAAF planes worth $1,346,381.
Last year Mr Marles spent $2,275,060.
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