According to Sydney Morning Herald reporting by Heath Aston, between October 16 and December 12, 2013 (approximately two months), Coalition ministers took 35 flights on RAAF "special purpose" aircraft on busy intercity routes [1].
The direct flight costs were $182,160, but when including fuel, crew, catering, and landing fees, the total cost approached $900,000 based on a formula established by ABC Fact Check unit [1].
这些 zhè xiē 航班 háng bān 涉及 shè jí 八位 bā wèi 部长 bù zhǎng , , 包括 bāo kuò 财政部长 cái zhèng bù zhǎng Joe Joe Hockey Hockey ( ( 8 8 次 cì 航班 háng bān ) ) 、 、 国防部长 guó fáng bù zhǎng David David Johnston Johnston 和 hé 助理 zhù lǐ 国防部长 guó fáng bù zhǎng Stuart Stuart Robert Robert , , 他们 tā men 共 gòng 乘坐 chéng zuò 了 le 14 14 次 cì 航班 háng bān , , 主要 zhǔ yào 是 shì 在 zài 堪培拉 kān péi lā 与 yǔ 各大 gè dà 首府 shǒu fǔ 城市 chéng shì 之间 zhī jiān [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
The flights involved eight ministers including Treasurer Joe Hockey (8 flights), Defence Minister David Johnston, and Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert, who together accounted for 14 flights largely between Canberra and major capitals [1].
These were RAAF Special Purpose Aircraft—military-operated VIP transport that has served Australian governments for over 75 years, transporting the Governor-General, Prime Minister, senior ministers, and dignitaries [2][3].
Standard Government Practice Across All Administrations**: The RAAF VIP fleet has operated for over 75 years, serving governments of all political persuasions [2].
Labor Government's Comparable (and Higher) Usage**: In the "frenetic last six weeks leading up to the election," Labor ministers took 42 flights on commercial routes—more than the Coalition's 35 flights in a comparable period [1].
Furthermore, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reportedly spent approximately $100,000 per week ($500,000 total) on VIP travel in just his final five weeks in office in 2013 [4][5].
Policy Guidelines and Justifications**: Department of Finance rules state that special purpose aircraft "should only be used when a commercial airline seat is not a viable option" [1].
Defence Minister David Johnston's office noted that flights between Perth and Canberra were necessary because there is generally only one direct commercial flight per day on that route [1].
**4.
Abbott Government's Early Term**: This spending occurred during the first three months of the Abbott Government (October-December 2013), when new ministers were establishing their offices and portfolios.
Some travel was likely transitional as the new government organized itself.
来源可信度评估
原始 yuán shǐ 来源 lái yuán 是 shì * * * * 《 《 悉尼 xī ní 先驱 xiān qū 晨报 chén bào 》 》 ( ( SMH SMH ) ) * * * * , , 这是 zhè shì Fairfax Fairfax Media Media ( ( 现 xiàn Nine Nine Entertainment Entertainment ) ) 旗下 qí xià 的 de 澳大利亚 ào dà lì yà 主流 zhǔ liú 大 dà 媒体 méi tǐ 。 。
The original source is the **Sydney Morning Herald (SMH)**, a major Australian mainstream media outlet owned by Fairfax Media (now Nine Entertainment).
According to media bias assessments, SMH is generally rated as center-left with high factual reporting standards [6].
然而 rán ér , , 文章 wén zhāng 的 de 表述 biǎo shù — — — — 包括 bāo kuò 强调 qiáng diào " " 承诺 chéng nuò 结束 jié shù 特权 tè quán 时代 shí dài " " 的 de 部长 bù zhǎng 们 men 的 de 标题 biāo tí — — — — 包含 bāo hán 突出 tū chū 表面 biǎo miàn 虚伪性 xū wěi xìng 的 de 编辑 biān jí 框架 kuāng jià [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
However, the article's framing—including the headline emphasizing ministers who "landed in office promising an end to the age of entitlement"—contains editorial framing that highlights apparent hypocrisy [1].
The reporting itself appears factual and cites official parliamentary records (the "schedule of special purpose flights, tabled twice a year in Parliament"), but the presentation emphasizes the contrast between the Coalition's austerity rhetoric and their VIP travel usage [1].
**Did Labor do something similar?**
Search conducted: "Labor government VIP jet travel spending ministers official flights Rudd Gillard"
Finding: **Yes, and at higher levels in many cases.**
- **Kevin Rudd's final weeks (2013)**: Spent approximately $500,000 on VIP plane flights in just five weeks—averaging $100,000 per week [4][5]
- **Labor's pre-election period**: In the six weeks before the 2013 election, Labor ministers took 42 VIP flights on commercial routes (compared to the Coalition's 35 flights over two months) [1]
- **Three-year total (2010-2012)**: Labor ministers spent more than $4 million on VIP flights between capital cities [5]
- **Historical comparison**: From 1998 to 2002, Coalition Treasurer Peter Costello spent over $270,000 on special purpose aircraft, indicating this practice spans multiple governments [7]
**Comparison**: The Coalition's $900,000 over two months ($450,000/month) is comparable to or lower than Labor's spending rates during similar periods.
* * * *
Kevin Rudd's $100,000/week ($400,000/month) exceeds the Coalition's monthly rate, though different circumstances (election campaigning vs. early government establishment) make direct comparison imperfect.
While critics highlight the apparent contradiction between the Coalition's "end of entitlement" rhetoric and their VIP aircraft usage, several factors provide important context:
**Legitimate operational reasons**: The Defence Minister's portfolio responsibility for the RAAF provides practical justification for using special purpose aircraft, particularly for routes with limited commercial options like Perth-Canberra [1].
The RAAF VIP fleet exists specifically to transport senior government officials when commercial alternatives are inadequate [2][3].
**Systemic issue, not partisan**: VIP aircraft usage has been consistent across Australian governments for decades.
The RAAF has operated VIP transport for over 75 years, and both major parties have made extensive use of these services when in power [2][5][7].
**Proportional comparison**: When compared to Labor's $4 million over three years and Kevin Rudd's $500,000 in five weeks, the Coalition's $900,000 in two months appears consistent with historical patterns of ministerial travel rather than extraordinary excess [1][4][5].
**Ghost flights**: The $70,000 in "ghost flights" (empty positioning flights) represents a genuine inefficiency in the system, though this appears to be an operational characteristic of maintaining aircraft availability rather than ministerial misuse.
**Key context**: This spending is **not unique to the Coalition**—it is standard practice across Australian governments, with Labor demonstrating comparable or higher usage during their tenure.
The factual claim that approximately $900,000 was spent on VIP aircraft in two months is accurate based on ABC Fact Check methodology applied to official parliamentary records.
However, the characterization as "private jet flights" is misleading—these were standard RAAF Special Purpose Aircraft used by all Australian governments for 75+ years.
The claim omits critical context that (1) Labor governments spent comparable or greater amounts on VIP travel, and (2) this is standard practice across all Australian governments, not unique to the Coalition.
The framing suggests extraordinary corruption or entitlement, when the evidence indicates this was routine government operations consistent with historical patterns across parties.
The factual claim that approximately $900,000 was spent on VIP aircraft in two months is accurate based on ABC Fact Check methodology applied to official parliamentary records.
However, the characterization as "private jet flights" is misleading—these were standard RAAF Special Purpose Aircraft used by all Australian governments for 75+ years.
The claim omits critical context that (1) Labor governments spent comparable or greater amounts on VIP travel, and (2) this is standard practice across all Australian governments, not unique to the Coalition.
The framing suggests extraordinary corruption or entitlement, when the evidence indicates this was routine government operations consistent with historical patterns across parties.