Senate debates Questions on Notice
Defence: Air Travel (Question No. 1735)
Scott Ryan Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2012:
(1) Has permission been sought for a domestic pet to travel on a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP flight by the Prime Minister or any minister; if so, can details of each such flight be provided, including the:
(a) date; and
(b) departure and arrival points.
(2) Has a domestic pet been listed on a flight manifest for a RAAF VIP flight by the Prime Minister or any minister; if so, can details of each such flight be provided, including the:
(a) date; and
(b) departure and arrival points.
(3) For each flight where permission was sought for a domestic pet to travel on a RAAF VIP flight with the Prime Minister or a minister; or, where a domestic pet was at any time listed on a flight manifest for a flight involving a minister or the Prime Minister, can details be provided for each flight where the domestic pet did not subsequently travel, including the:
(a) date; and
(b) departure and arrival points.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:
Since 2007, Air Force is not aware of any domestic pet being carried on a RAAF VIP flight. Since 2007, no Prime Minister or Minister has sought permission for a domestic pet to be transported on Special Purpose Aircraft flights. Should such a request be received and approved, however, no flight manifest details are kept as pets would be treated and carried as cargo.