The Abbott government spent more than $15,000 flying Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell and other officials to Sydney for weekly media briefings before abandoning the practice.

The travel costs for 11 press conferences during an 11-week period in 2013 have been revealed under freedom of information.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Operation Sovereign Borders Commander, Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell, pictured at one of the weekly briefings late last year. Credit:Tamara Dean

Between September 23 and December 20, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison staged 14 briefings with Lieutenant-General Campbell and Defence Force vice-chief Mark Binskin.

The costs of sending customs officials from Canberra to the Sydney briefings, including chief executive Michael Pezzullo, was $8243.13 for 11 weeks. This included accommodation and meals for an unnamed official for two nights.