Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:59 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, how are the media, the public or the parliament meant to hold ministers to account for travel via special purpose aircraft when no details of routes undertaken or passengers on flights are provided?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Thank you for the question. I understand this question has been asked in the House, and I would make this point: that the last time a SPA manifest was tabled under your government was August 2021. August of 2021 was the last time you tabled a manifest.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Well, that's the truth.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education
Oh, come on, Senator Wong!
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education
The people of Geelong are outraged about this.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I know the senator wishes to run a Corangamite campaign from the Senate, but I'm not sure that's going to work!
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Wong, I am calling the chamber to order. Senator Henderson, I invite you also to make your contributions on Tuesday night, not during question time. I've called you many times today. Minister, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I'm sorry, Senator Henderson; I assumed that you might stand for Corangamite, not Corio, but fair enough. I'm sure you might want to do that as well.
The AFP advised that new SPA guidelines were required in November 2022—
Sue Lines President
Senator Henderson! Order! Minister Wong, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As I was saying, we were advised that new SPA guidelines were required, and the government published new special-purpose aircraft reports to present in a manner consistent with revised security guidelines. In other words, security agencies gave clear advice, we followed that advice and, unlike those opposite, we are being transparent and publish what we can and do not publish what we cannot.
An opposition senator interjecting—
I've answered the question.
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
3:02 pm
What is the security risk that's created by revealing the routes flown, potentially without dates, of special-purpose aircraft flights? What is the security risk created by revealing the passengers on board those flights?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
It is surprising that a responsible opposition would ask about security risks in that context. What I can say is that the guidelines were revised as a consequence of AFP advice and the government is publishing information in accordance with those guidelines.
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
3:03 pm
Will the minister confirm that there were no comparable commercial flights available on every occasion that the Minister for Defence has used a special-purpose aircraft for domestic travel purposes?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Minister for Defence has made clear publicly and to the parliament that everything he has done—every flight he has taken—has been in pursuit of his duties as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence on behalf of the country.
With that, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.