Turnbull Government Minister, Sussan Ley, reportedly spent more than $12,000 chartering a plane from Canberra to the Gold Coast last year to attend a function with the Pharmacy Guild.

Ms Ley and an adviser traveled from Canberra to Coolangatta on an Royal Australian Air Force plane last March, the .

The RAAF deploys five "Special Purpose Aircraft" - two and three - which are only to be used by ministers when commercial arrangements make official schedules impossible.

Minister Ley's travel took place on 17 March 2016 which her office said was a "ministerial portfolio commitment" on the last sitting day of the autumn session.

"Before Minister Ley departed Canberra, she was required to attend another ministerial portfolio commitment that morning which had been called at short notice," a spokesperson for Minister Ley said.

"This meant any commercial flights out of Canberra on that day would have had Minister Ley arrive into Coolangatta after her scheduled commitment with the Pharmacy Guild was due to commence."

Despite already missing question time, the Minister's office said it was expected Parliament would sit late that evening, and it was "imperative" Ms Ley return to Canberra as quickly as possible.

"As with all Minister Ley’s portfolio and electorate travel commitments, commercial flight arrangements were investigated, but in this particular situation deemed not suitable," Minister Ley's spokesperson said.