The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, has been accused of not telling the truth in an answer to parliament by claiming he complied with guidelines on the use of taxpayer-funded VIP flights, despite failing to give details of $3.6m of flights he authorised.
Guidelines in place since 2013 oblige the government to make details of flights public every six months. But the former Coalition government ended that practice, citing a pending security review by the federal police, finance department and others.
The Albanese government announced it would update the guidelines in line with security advice, but the Greens senator David Shoebridge has seized on documents produced by Marles to the Senate which reveal that new guidelines “remain in draft form”, arguing that should compel Marles to reveal details of the flights in accordance with the 2013 guidelines.
Marles insists he is following security advice by refusing to release details, including where he travelled or who was on the flights.
On 4 September, Marles told the House of Representatives: “The guidelines that are in place I completely comply with and so does every other person in the government who uses the special purpose aircraft.
“I absolutely stand by the way in which all persons on this side have complied with those guidelines.”
Shoebridge claimed: “If the minster has said he has fully complied with the guidelines, the minister has not told the truth.
The week in parliament: a rowdy protest, ‘aggressive’ MP behaviour and then the pressure cooker blows | House PartyRead more
“The [2013] guidelines have a black and white obligation for six-monthly reporting of all legs flown and passengers carried. That has never been complied with under his watch.”
Documents produced under freedom of information and to the Senate show that on 22 February, the security coordination group agreed that “special purpose aircraft [SPA] guidelines are not currently fit-for-purpose in regards to protecting security sensitivities, including demonstrating a protection of pattern of life data be amended”.
The group agreed to amend the 2013 guidelines to remove references to: date and time of flights; departure and arrival location; names of those aboard below executive level 2; media, family members and officials.
In a letter on 13 September, Marles claimed “consistent with the Albanese government’s commitment to transparency, the SPA guidelines have subsequently been updated so that reporting may recommence in a manner and form consistent with the security advice”.
But Marles also noted that “the security coordination committee recommended the 2023 SPA guidelines remain in draft form until broader transparency and accountability measures are finalised”.
Shoebridge said: “The public was led to believe that amended guidelines were in place that validated the lack of transparency. It turns out that is plainly untrue.”
skip past newsletter promotion
after newsletter promotion
A spokesperson…
2023-09-13 21:48:22
Post from www.theguardian.com
rnrn
