David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. Can the minister confirm that Defence has entered into a $100 million contract for the provision of air services to the Middle East area of operations with a company that owns no planes, employs hardly any Australians and is using a Portuguese charter operator that has no Australian regular passenger transport certificate operator’s licence and that the minimum requirement of the tender specifications requires that any aircraft carrying defence personnel be by an operator who has such a capability? Why was this tender response not voided due to such noncompliance?