The former resources minister used the occasion to give a speech attacking ‘self-indulgent’ environmentalists

This article is more than 5 months old

This article is more than 5 months old

The former resources minister Matt Canavan billed taxpayers for a $5,390 charter flight to travel 150km to attend the opening of a coalmine, where he gave a speech attacking “self-indulgent” environmental activists.

Canavan took the private charter flight from Mackay to Colinsville, a three-hour drive, so he could get to the opening of the $1.76bn Byerwen mine in north Queensland.

At the opening, Canavan gave a speech attacking what he described as “hypocritical, self-indulgent activists” holding back the dreamers of the mining industry.

“Today those dreamers have the modern problem of fighting a bunch of hypocritical, self-indulgent activists who like to enjoy all of the conveniences of modern life powered by our mining sector while campaigning against the very industry that makes this happen.”

The most recent parliamentary expense reports, released last week, show Canavan later billed taxpayers for the $5,390 charter flight.

Matt Canavan leaves two properties worth more than $1m off 2019 declaration of interests Read more

Canavan told the Guardian the mode of travel was unavoidable because the opening occurred on a parliamentary sitting day and he couldn’t use the normal government aircraft at the local airstrip. He said attending the mine opening was part of his role as minister for resources and northern Australia.

“As the government’s special purpose aircraft was unable to land at the Collinsville Airstrip, a charter from Mackay to Collinsville was the most efficient method of travel, allowing me to return to Canberra that evening to attend the rest of the parliamentary sitting week,” he said.

The expense was listed as “unscheduled travel” by the independent parliamentary expenses authority and the finance department.

“Scheduled travel encompasses flights with scheduled departure times, unscheduled travel encompasses flights with flexible departure times,” Canavan said.

The expense is roughly the same as that incurred by the former Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop, who chartered a $5,227 helicopter for a return trip from Melbourne to a golf course near Geelong for a Liberal party function.

The trips differ in that Canavan’s travel was clearly associated with his then ministerial portfolio and was likely within the rules.

The Byerwen mine, a joint venture between QCoal and Japan’s JFE Steel, is expected to export coal for steel production in Europe, Japan, India and some south-east Asian markets.

Canavan quit as minister last month to support Barnaby Joyce’s bid to return to the leadership position. He has described himself as running on an “unashamedly pro-coal” platform.

The Guardian previously reported that Canavan had omitted two properties worth more than $1m from his current declaration of interests to parliament. He declared “nil” interests in real estate despite owning two houses in Yeppoon, Queensland and Macquarie in Canberra.

Canavan said he was not required to declare the interests to the 46th parliament because they’d been declared to the previous parliament, an argument that conflicts with official advice.