David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

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) 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:

(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,

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

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

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

Omit paragraph (b), substitute:

(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.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've circulated an amendment to Senator Chisholm's amendment, and I seek leave to move that amendment.

Leave granted.

I move:

After paragraph (d)(ii), add:

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

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Shoebridge to the amendment moved by Senator Chisholm to general business notice of motion No. 309 be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

PRESIDENT (): The question now is that the government's amendment, as moved by Senator Chisholm and amended by Senator Shoebridge's motion, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. The government has acted on the advice of our security agencies in relation to the reporting of the use of special-purpose aircraft. It was a clear recommendation of the agencies that the level of information published in the reports was not fit for purpose in the current security environment. The Albanese government is committed to transparency, and that is why, following the security review and the presentation of the updated guidelines, we restarted publishing the reports. We published the information that is safe to publish and that reflects the advice of our security agencies. The fact that we are debating it demonstrates that we are accountable. That is why we restarted reporting in line with the security advice after the opposition stopped publishing these reports without explanation or reason during the last 18 months of their government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business motion 309, amended, as moved by Senator Shoebridge be agreed to.