❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding private charter flights utilised by departments within the Minister's portfolios. Reveals costs, dates, purposes, and passengers for the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration and the WA Electoral Commission.
AnsweredQoN 1446Legislative Assembly
Asked
3 December 2025
Member
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance
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
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance
Response time
3 days
Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration
The Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration was formed on 1 July 2025.* As at 31 December 2025:
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) $605,786.00 excluding GST, which forms part of approved budgets and project contracts.
(ii) Charter periods were 29 June 2025 to 9 July 2025, 1 August 2025 to 4 August 2025, 15 August 2025 to 30 August 2025 and 6 October 2025 to 28 October 2025.
(iii) Field operations supporting the WA Array and Western Australia’s magnetotelluric (WAMT) programs.
(iv) Departure and arrival ports were Balladonia, Broome, Carnarvon, Denham, Kalbarri, Kumarina, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mt Augustus, Warburton and Warrakurna.
(v) General Manager Investment, Geoscience Support Officers, Graduate Officer Industry Ready, Manager of Earth Imaging and Observation, Project Manager WAMT, Seismologist, Senior Geologist, Senior Geophysicist and Technical Lead Seismologist (Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration), Seismologist (Geoscience Australia), Moombarriga Geoscience (subcontractor) personnel, Chief Scientist and Senior Seismologist (Seismological Research Centre) and Traditional Owner representatives.
Gold Corporation
(a) No.
(b) Not applicable.
Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia
(a) No.
(b) Not applicable.
Western Australian Electoral Commission
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) $170,936.32 plus GST.
(ii) 17 February 2025, 24 February 2025, 26 February 2025, 27 February 2025, 28 February 2025, 4 March 2025, 5 March 2025 and 14 October 2025.
(iii) Delivery of polling places for remote communities for the 2025 State General Election and the 2025 Shire of Menzies Local Government Election.
(iv) Departure and arrival ports were Broome, Derby, Kalgoorlie, Kalumburu, Mt Barnett Road House, Newman, Tjukurla, Tjuntjuntjara, Wannan, Warburton and Wingella.
(v) Returning Officers (Western Australian Electoral Commission) and Remote Issuing Officers (contracted by Persol).
For matters relating to the Department of Treasury and Finance please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1435.
For matters relating to the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1436.
* For matters relating to the former Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1447.
The Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration was formed on 1 July 2025.* As at 31 December 2025:
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) $605,786.00 excluding GST, which forms part of approved budgets and project contracts.
(ii) Charter periods were 29 June 2025 to 9 July 2025, 1 August 2025 to 4 August 2025, 15 August 2025 to 30 August 2025 and 6 October 2025 to 28 October 2025.
(iii) Field operations supporting the WA Array and Western Australia’s magnetotelluric (WAMT) programs.
(iv) Departure and arrival ports were Balladonia, Broome, Carnarvon, Denham, Kalbarri, Kumarina, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mt Augustus, Warburton and Warrakurna.
(v) General Manager Investment, Geoscience Support Officers, Graduate Officer Industry Ready, Manager of Earth Imaging and Observation, Project Manager WAMT, Seismologist, Senior Geologist, Senior Geophysicist and Technical Lead Seismologist (Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration), Seismologist (Geoscience Australia), Moombarriga Geoscience (subcontractor) personnel, Chief Scientist and Senior Seismologist (Seismological Research Centre) and Traditional Owner representatives.
Gold Corporation
(a) No.
(b) Not applicable.
Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia
(a) No.
(b) Not applicable.
Western Australian Electoral Commission
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) $170,936.32 plus GST.
(ii) 17 February 2025, 24 February 2025, 26 February 2025, 27 February 2025, 28 February 2025, 4 March 2025, 5 March 2025 and 14 October 2025.
(iii) Delivery of polling places for remote communities for the 2025 State General Election and the 2025 Shire of Menzies Local Government Election.
(iv) Departure and arrival ports were Broome, Derby, Kalgoorlie, Kalumburu, Mt Barnett Road House, Newman, Tjukurla, Tjuntjuntjara, Wannan, Warburton and Wingella.
(v) Returning Officers (Western Australian Electoral Commission) and Remote Issuing Officers (contracted by Persol).
For matters relating to the Department of Treasury and Finance please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1435.
For matters relating to the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1436.
* For matters relating to the former Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety please refer to Legislative Assembly Question On Notice 1447.
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