MEMBER for Barker Tony Pasin has defended a decision to charter a private plane from Mount Gambier at a cost of almost $6000 to attend a Harmony Day event in the Riverland.
A parliamentary expenditure report revealed the Liberal MP spent $5736.50 on a private flight from Mount Gambier to Renmark in March.
Mr Pasin attended a public meeting for the proposed Mount Gambier Regional Sport and Recreation Centre before boarding a plane to attend a Renmark Paringa Council-hosted event in the north of the electorate.
He said the March flight was the only charter he had taken this year and said it was in accordance with budgets allocated to members of parliament.
Mr Pasin said he was required to travel extensively throughout the rural electorate, which spans more than 65,000km2 from Mount Gambier to north of Renmark to represent Barker’s constituents.
He said moving around South Australia’s second biggest electorate was expensive but stressed he aimed to keep travel costs at a minimum.
However, Mr Pasin said some occasions meant it was “simply not possible” to drive the distance in time between events.
“I drive approximately 100,000km a year in my car to do this, despite spending 20 weeks a year in Canberra,” he said.
“I do not have a driver or chauffeured vehicle as ministers do, I drive myself.
“On other occasions my safety, that of my staff and of other road users is taken into consideration and a decision is taken to use the charter allowance that is available to me for this very reason.”
MPs representing large seats attract an additional allowance to undertake their duties, which is set by the Independent Parliamentary Expense Authority.
Parliamentarians are entitled to claim unscheduled transport costs – which include charter flights and hired vehicles – within their electorate if they cannot “reasonably” use their vehicle for the journey.
Mr Pasin’s annual charter budget is $21,160.
The federal MP said scheduling circumstances would require him to take a second charter this weekend.
“This Saturday I’ll be spending the day at the Millicent Show with my mobile electorate office, before attending the Barmera RSL Armistice Commemoration Dinner,” Mr Pasin said.
“I will charter from Millicent to Barmera to save five hours of driving.
“This is five hours that will be spent with my constituents rather than in my car.
“When the dinner finishes late on Saturday night, I will fly from Barmera to my family so I can be there when my children wake up on Sunday – the only day I am able to spend with my wife and children.
“The alternative is driving through the night to arrive home at 1 or 2am after a 17 or 18 hour day.”
The same parliamentary report outlining Mr Pasin’s travel costs revealed an accident access for his private-plated vehicle in January.
“My mother has already taken one phone call from an employer to inform her that her son went to work, but would not be coming home,” Mr Pasin said.
“I’m sure no-one wishes her to receive another one.”
