❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding private charter flights used by government departments and agencies in FY24-25 and FY25-26. The Premier and Cabinet and Energy and Economic Diversification departments used charter flights, while others did not.
AnsweredQoN 1434Legislative Assembly
Asked
3 December 2025
Member
Portfolio
Premier; Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Economic Diversification
QuestionView source ↗
For each department, agency or statutory authority within the Minister’s portfolios for FY24–25 and the current financial year to date: (a) Were any private charter flights utilised; and (b) If yes: (i) What was the cost; (ii) What was the date; (iii) What was the purpose of the flight; (iv) What was the departure port and arrival port; and (v) Who were the passengers (include title, organisation)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Response time
3 days
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
(a-b) The Department of Premier and Cabinet utilises charter flights as replacement services for the two Government-leased jets during periods of unscheduled maintenance.
In 2024-25, there were 24 charter flights out of a total 171 flights booked by the Department, at a cost of $620,162. This includes the caretaker period, in which the-then Opposition Leader was entitled to of charter flights.
In 2025-26 to December 3, there have been nine charter flights out of 46 flights booked by the Department, at a cost of $318,169.
These flights enable Ministers to travel to regional Western Australia on short time frames for official ministerial business.
Department of Energy and Economic Diversification
(a) Yes
(b) Flight 1
(i) $0 (no cost to the Department)
(ii) Friday, 5 September 2025
(iii) To receive an update from BAE systems on their operations in the UK and Australia.
(iv) Departure Port : Farnborough Airport (Farnborough, United Kingdom)
Arrival Port: Walney Airport (Barrow-In-Furness, United Kingdom)
(v) Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing and Gaming
Nathan Brooks, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing and Gaming
Linda Dawson, Head, Office of Defence Industries, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Peta Arbuckle, Executive Director, Defence West, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Carolyn Gallop, Trade and Investment Manager, Invest and Trade WA
Flight 2
(i) $0 (no cost to the Department)
(ii) Wednesday, 10 December 2025
(iii) To travel to POSCO’s Steelworks and Lithium Solution sites and reaffirm our strong ties with POSCO Holdings, a significant investor in Western Australia and a major South Korean steel corporation, and to visit the POSCO operations to see how the POSCO Group businesses are closely tied to Western Australia.
(iv) Departure port: Jamsil Helicopter Pad (Seoul, South Korea)
Arrival port: Gwangyang Helipad (Gwangyang, South Korea)
(v) Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara
Mr Meath Hammond, Special Adviser, Office of Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara
Mr Phil Gorey, A/Investment and Trade Commissioner for Western Australia (North East Asia)
Ms Jess AHN, Director, ITWA Seoul
Mr Andy PARK, Team Leader, Raw Materials Office I, POSCO
Public Sector Commission
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Lotterywest
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Infrastructure WA
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
(a-b) The Department of Premier and Cabinet utilises charter flights as replacement services for the two Government-leased jets during periods of unscheduled maintenance.
In 2024-25, there were 24 charter flights out of a total 171 flights booked by the Department, at a cost of $620,162. This includes the caretaker period, in which the-then Opposition Leader was entitled to of charter flights.
In 2025-26 to December 3, there have been nine charter flights out of 46 flights booked by the Department, at a cost of $318,169.
These flights enable Ministers to travel to regional Western Australia on short time frames for official ministerial business.
Department of Energy and Economic Diversification
(a) Yes
(b) Flight 1
(i) $0 (no cost to the Department)
(ii) Friday, 5 September 2025
(iii) To receive an update from BAE systems on their operations in the UK and Australia.
(iv) Departure Port : Farnborough Airport (Farnborough, United Kingdom)
Arrival Port: Walney Airport (Barrow-In-Furness, United Kingdom)
(v) Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing and Gaming
Nathan Brooks, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing and Gaming
Linda Dawson, Head, Office of Defence Industries, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Peta Arbuckle, Executive Director, Defence West, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Carolyn Gallop, Trade and Investment Manager, Invest and Trade WA
Flight 2
(i) $0 (no cost to the Department)
(ii) Wednesday, 10 December 2025
(iii) To travel to POSCO’s Steelworks and Lithium Solution sites and reaffirm our strong ties with POSCO Holdings, a significant investor in Western Australia and a major South Korean steel corporation, and to visit the POSCO operations to see how the POSCO Group businesses are closely tied to Western Australia.
(iv) Departure port: Jamsil Helicopter Pad (Seoul, South Korea)
Arrival port: Gwangyang Helipad (Gwangyang, South Korea)
(v) Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara
Mr Meath Hammond, Special Adviser, Office of Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara
Mr Phil Gorey, A/Investment and Trade Commissioner for Western Australia (North East Asia)
Ms Jess AHN, Director, ITWA Seoul
Mr Andy PARK, Team Leader, Raw Materials Office I, POSCO
Public Sector Commission
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Lotterywest
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Infrastructure WA
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal
(a) No
(b) Not Applicable
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