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Marise Payne among Liberals late again on flight transparency

Labor is highlighting transparency concerns after the government missed the latest deadline in providing details of special flights taken by politicians.

Defence Minister Marise Payne has once again failed to disclose her tax-payer funded flights.
Defence Minister Marise Payne has once again failed to disclose her tax-payer funded flights. Source: AAP

Defence Minister Marise Payne has missed every deadline to shed light on special taxpayer-funded flights reserved for politicians since taking the job.

Some reporting on costs to the taxpayer of the program allowing politicians to jet around the country on official business has arrived up to eight months late.

"Australians rightly expect transparency and accountability from those they elect," Labor's deputy Senate leader Don Farrell told AAP on Saturday.

"This government has an appalling history of using taxpayer-funded flights inappropriately and a record of routinely hiding information from taxpayers."

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The defence minister is required to release detailed lists of routes, passengers, hours and costings in June and December each year.

These lists are required to be tabled in parliament, but with no forthcoming report expected on Saturday, the government is due to miss another deadline.

Labor sources told AAP the late reporting represents a major transparency issue, pointing to recent coalition controversies regarding the misuse of flights.

Sussan Ley.
Sussan Ley. Source: AAP

In January 2017, Liberal MP Sussan Ley resigned from cabinet following a scandal concerning the misuse of taxpayer-funded flights.

Labor insiders also claim the late reporting is not standard, with all but two Labor reports between January 2007 and December 2012 coming in early.

On parliament's last sitting day before the long winter break, the Senate passed an order compelling the defence minister to produce the latest flight details.

But Ms Payne refused to comply, claiming the tabling deadlines are more flexible.

"There are both data collection and verification activities currently underway which need to be finalised to enable the tabling of the Schedule," she said.


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