Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Under the guidelines for special purpose aircraft flights—otherwise known as the VIP flights—the minister is required to table schedules every six months. Under this government, they have routinely been tabled late. Two weeks ago, the Senate ordered the Minister for Defence to table the schedule for VIP flights for the period ending June 2019. Why is this minister continuing to disregard that order?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Wong for that question. In short, the government is not disregarding that order.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, a supplementary question?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the last Senate estimates in October, the Department of Defence revealed that this minister had sat on the most recent schedule for 71 days. So can the minister advise the Senate on what date the Department of Defence provided her with the schedule for the period ending 30 June 2019? How long has she been sitting on it this time?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, thank you very much. I don't have those dates with me, but I'll take it on notice and get back to you as soon as I can. But I can assure Senator Wong and the Senate that I completely reject her suggestion that I've been sitting on it. Senator Wong is well aware of the time frame and the processes, and they were followed to the word by me. But I will get—

Senator Wong interjecting—

No, it is not, Senator Wong. Senator Wong, I will get the dates for you and come back to you as soon as possible.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, a final supplementary question?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister give an undertaking that she will ensure that this schedule, which is already delayed, is tabled prior to estimates? If not, can she please advise the Senate what it is in that schedule that the government doesn't want the public to know?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, yes, I can confirm that it will be tabled before estimates. Again, I categorically reject the categorisation of this process.