Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Can the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that the government has subsidised the use of luxury private jets for Crown casino, Clive Palmer's Mineralogy and the Leppington Pastoral Company to the combined value of $73,000? As Australia hurtles towards a trillion dollars of Liberal Party and National Party debt, why on earth is the Deputy Prime Minister spending borrowed money on these luxury flights?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the opposition leader for his question. We have committed $2.7 billion of assistance for the aviation sector, and we've done it on a sector-wide basis. We've made sure that we maintain minimum—I would say essential—air services across Australia, including more than 400 return flights per week to more than 120 locations, of which 110 are regional and remote. Seventy operators who have been given assistance and who have accessed assistance and rebates under the sector-wide aviation assistance include aeromedical, and charter flights for fly-in fly-out. This has been important. This has actually kept, for those regional communities—indeed, for the people in them—the ability to fly around the nation. This is so important, and I'm proud of the aviation assistance we've provided.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I've concluded my answer.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Prime Minister has indicated he's concluded his answer.