Defence minister says previous government is responsible for technical problems that beset prime minister’s RAAF plane

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The defence minister, David Johnston, has blamed the previous Labor government after Tony Abbott’s departure for Indonesia was delayed by technical problems with his RAAF jet on Wednesday.



Abbott was due to meet Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Batam Island later in the day to improve relations damaged by spying revelations and asylum seeker policies.



But his departure from Canberra was delayed for several hours and a replacement jet had to be brought in.



Johnston said the Rudd government had given the Coalition a "hospital handball" by renewing the contract on the current fleet of jets just before the 2013 election.



"I was very unhappy about that," Johnston said.



The opposition defence spokesman, Stephen Conroy, said in response to the claim: "The Coalition is now so desperate they are blaming Labor for mechanical problems on the prime minister's plane – nine months after the election."



The fleet includes two leased Boeing Business Jets and three Bombardier Challengers operated by the RAAF's 34 Squadron and based at Canberra International Airport.



"These aircraft are very old, they're well maintained, they're very serviceable but there are some issues with age and we've got to deal with them and we need to trade out of them," Johnston said.



The Coalition had been willing to give bipartisan support for a new VIP aircraft fleet, but now was left with "significant costs" if it wanted to cut short the lease.



"There is a program we are working on now," Johnston said.



Indonesia is the first stop on Abbott’s four-nation tour. After Indonesia, the prime minister will travel to France with other world leaders for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He will also meet with president Francois Hollande in Paris.



He will then head to Ottawa for meetings with business leaders and prime minister Stephen Harper, followed by talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington DC.



"It will be another opportunity for me to demonstrate that Australia is open for business," Abbott said before leaving.



"It will be a further opportunity for me to bolster Australia's economic and national security."

A 20-member business delegation will accompany him to New York and Houston.



Canadian pension funds are being wooed to invest in Australian roads, energy utilities, airports and ports.



Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Abbott should use his time overseas to think about how to make the federal budget fairer.



"This rotten budget is still here festering and it will still be here when you come back," Shorten said of the trip.



Abbott dismissed suggestions he should remain in Australia to get his first budget through a hostile parliament.



"It's always good to be improving Australia's international relations," he said.

