Someone really hates Canberra

“Canberra is the capital of Australia because its in the constitution”
Perhaps. But the Prime Minister isn’t. It’s true, the PM is not officially stated, he exists out of convention.

“Mr Howards electorate is in Sydney and so is his home. I don’t see a problem with him living there.”
Yes, in Bennalong, where he still has a house.

“aren’t the aircraft official stored and maintained at Richmond Airbase?”
The VIP fleet (No. 34 “Transport” Squadron) is based in Canberra at the Fairbarn Hanger. Strangely, they are reported to return to Canberra instead of staying in Sydney.

“I think it would be a far greater tragedy for taxpayer’s money being spent on maintenance costs on a plane that was not even used.”
The fleet consists of five aircraft. 3 Challengers and 2 737s. Okay, I accept most of you do not have a problem with the PM racking up the travel bill for purely personal purposes. Though one must note that both the US President and British PM don’t do it with such frequency. But it is disappointing that he uses petrol guzzling jets, Why not a Dash-8 or smaller prop such as a

34SQN is based at RAAF Fairbairn, and they operate 2 Boeing 737s and 3 Challenger 600 jets for VIP duties.

hingo, is Kirribilli House in Bennelong? Or maybe Howard’s plane lands on the M2.

The PM is allowed to use the VIP jets because he is a VIP. How more important can a VIP get in Australia?

Mr Howards electorate is in Sydney and so is his home. I don’t see a problem with him living there. The Lodge has not changed, it is still the official house of the PM, but I don’t think they should be forced to live there. Nobody else in Australia is forced to live anywhere unless you are a prisoner.

We aren’t talking about travelling across a continent here, we are talking about a 3 hour drive at best. Besides, aren’t the aircraft official stored and maintained at Richmond Airbase?

I think it would be a far greater tradgedy for taxpayer’s money being spent on maintenance costs on a plane that was not even used.

I think there are far bigger issues to be concerned about. There are dole bludging junkie idiots spending more of your taxpayer dollars than this aircraft every day.

Easy answer. Canberra is the capital of Australia because its in the constitution.

$180,000 is not a lot of money to pay to keep a countries leader safe in travel. Imagine how much money the Australian economy would lose if something bad happened.

Some have asked if the PM should drive himself. Well, no. But why do so many MPs use ComCars? Hell, the Queen of England as well as numerous countries often drive themselves. In a recent documentary about Windsor Castle, the Queen jumped in the driver’s seat and actually drove the driver and staff. Prince Philip too drives himself. If the very rich and well looked after Royal Family of England can drive themselves around, why can’t MPs. The PM deserves a driver and car, but can the Member for Timbuktu really say he’s so busy, he can’t drive.

“Prime Minister’s jet”

But it’s not. The RAAF maintains an official fleet of VIP aircraft for official use. And the use of these aircraft is not cheap. A large number of the flights are just the pilots returning to Canberra too, which is a tremendous waste of fuel and money.

The other thing is around the world, most leaders stay in the capital. To have a leader who insists on escaping the capital demeans Canberra’s status even more.

Finally, many past PMs have lived at The Lodge in Canberra while in office, if not all before Keating and Howard. Why should this tradition change?

Also, think about the increase and duplication of costs by having a PM who essentially has too capital cities. Advisors and staff must travel between cities. He maintains greater infrastructure in Sydney than past PMs.

Let me be blunt. If the PM spends so much time in Sydney, has the infrastructure in Sydney to do his job without having to be in Canberra and prefers Sydney, why is Canberra still the capital? If business prefers Sydney, the country’s leader prefers Sydney and Sydney hosts major economic and political events while Canberra sits idle (eg. APEC), then why not make Sydney the capital?

The ~$180k quoted is actually the costs specific to those flights. The cost of the fleet’s existence makes that look like chump change.

Those costs are a little misleading as a lot of the cost will still be there if the PM uses the planes or not. And In a country as wealthy as us who cares. At least we use modest size business jets and a little 737 instead of a 747 look at me jet.

I think all ministers should live and work in their electorate unless parliament is sitting.

The problem is that since Keating and Howard decided it is okay to flit back and forward between Canberra and Sydney, some PS Dept Heads have taken their lead and are now fliting back and forth between Canberra and elsewhere – at great expense to the taxpayer.

Where do you draw the line?

It all depends if he waxed his chest or not.

If your prime minister, you should be able to live where you like – as long as you do the job properly. He could live in Alice Springs if he wants. I guess if you have a problem with it… it just plain old sucks to be you.

“John Howard in spandex? Delicious.”

With oiled up pecs????

I personally think that if you are the PM, then you should live in the Lodge in Canberra. If you don’t want to live here, well don’t run as PM!

I blame Howa….actually, no I don’t. Being Prime Minister, he is entitled to the Prime Minister’s jet. I’m sure Keating did it and I’m sure Rudd would as well. Plus, its not that he hates Canberra, its that his home is in Sydney. Holy crap, what a lousy bastard for wanting to go home to his family!

If you were Prime Minister, would you want to risk being mobbed by the media and greenie idiots at the airport trying to get on a domestic flight? Come on, we aren’t a third world country here. The next you’ll be saying he should drive himself to Sydney in a clapped out Falcon.

I think he should ride a bike. Save the whales and all that jazz. John Howard in spandex? Delicious.

Non story. Yawn.

Pretty pathetic effort of Howard bashing

So you’re going to baulk at a paltry $1.6 million? He’s the Prime Minister, he can stay where he likes and has unlimited use of a private jet.

Keating used to ferry himself back and forth from Sydney in the RAAF jets as well you know. But I understand, let’s not pass up an opportunity to have an anti-Howard bashing.

I understand that Keating and Hawke also like to jet about at taxpayers’ expense in their leisurely lives these days.

Actually a number of other ministers (Foreign Minister, Treasurer, Deputy PM etc) and the GG use the VIP fleet as well for varying reasons. I think the Opposition Leader even gets a go during election campaigns.

You’ll find the same story in the News Ltd papers every now and again, presumably as regularly as the figures for jet use are published/tabled in parliament.

Beats writing an original article.