Premier Steven Miles used a government jet to make an 11-minute flight from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg where he celebrated his MPs birthday and announced a new school fence.
In making the short flight, Mr Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman avoided driving the notoriously dangerous, single-lane stretch of the Bruce Highway during a week the quality of the road has been in the spotlight.The premier’s plane departed Hervey Bay Airport at 4.22pm on Monday and made the 74km journey to Bundaberg – roughly the same distance as Brisbane to Surfers Paradise – before landing at 4.33pm.The purpose of the overnight stop in Bundaberg has raised questions, with Mr Miles arriving Monday afternoon and presenting a cake to local MP Tom Smith for his 34th birthday.On Tuesday morning, Mr Miles gave a radio interview, toured the site of Bundaberg’s under-construction hospital and announced a new security fence for the Bundaberg East State School if Labor is re-elected.His office said the government had already leased the plane and noted it did not cost taxpayers any extra to fly it to Bundaberg.Premier Steven Miles’ 11-minute flight on government jet for birthday cake, school fencePremier Steven Miles made a 74km journey from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg on a government jet to celebrate an MP’s birthday and to announce a school fence, avoiding the Bruce Hwy.
By making the short flight, the premier and his entourage – which included a photographer and journalist from The Courier-Mail – was able to avoid driving the 110km journey from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg along the two-star rated stretch of the Bruce Highway between Torbanlea and Childers.The journey in a vehicle would have taken one hour and 20 minutes.Mr Miles made the overnight stop in Bundaberg during a three-day trip to Hervey Bay and Rockhampton to announce two new satellite hospitals.Mr Miles revealed he stopped in Bundaberg and “surprised Tom Smith with a couple of mud cakes for his birthday”.He did not hold a media conference to announce the new school security fence or hospital tour.
Mr Miles’s office said he was in the region to “meet with and listen to Queenslanders” across the state.“These regions have unique opportunities and challenges that the Miles Labor Government is working hard to address, including a shortfall in access to primary healthcare,” a spokeswoman for the premier said.“While in the regions, the Premier met with education leaders, community organisations, healthcare workers and local business owners.”Mr Miles faced criticism earlier this year for taking two jets on a five-day trip zipping between Brisbane and regional Queensland in April.The eight-seat Embraer Phenom 300 used by Mr Miles cost $83,150 for the trip, while the Police Commissioners Cessna Citation CJ2+ cost $84,640 for the same time period—equating to about $16,700 a day per jet.Originally published as Premier Steven Miles’ 11-minute flight on government jet for birthday cake, school fence
