Department of Defence

The majority voted in favour of an amended motion introduced by NSW Senator David Shoebridge (Greens), which means the documents referred to will need to be produced.

Amended motion text

That—

(a) the Senate notes that previously, under guidelines for the use of special purpose aircraft, schedules of flights (which included full details regarding each flight) were regularly tabled in the Senate to promote public transparency and accountability in relation to the use of RAAF VIP aircraft, and the last schedule was tabled in the Senate on 28 June 2021 and covered the period 1 July to 31 December 2020; and

(b) The Senate notes that security agencies are best placed to complete threat assessments in relation to the security of politicians and their families;

(c) The Senate notes that the Leader of the Opposition has also stated that, "security agencies are best placed to make the threat assessments in relation to politicians, our families" and that, "the AFP for a while have been concerned about pattern of life issues.";

(d) there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, by no later than 3 pm on 13 September 2023, the following information relating to special purpose flights to the extent such information can be provided consistent with advice from security agencies:

(i) for all flights since 1 January 2021:

(A) cost per flight, including the cost of any empty return flights (often referred to as ghost flights),

(B) the departure and arrival locations, and

(C) the date of the flights, and

(ii) all current guidelines provided to officials around the use of special purpose flights.

(iii) all previous versions of guidelines provided to officials around the use of special purpose flights.