$158m spent on govt overseas air travel

Taxpayers forked out nearly $158 million to pay for international air travel across federal government department and agencies, figures reveal.

Almost $158 million of taxpayer money was spent on international flights across Australian government departments and agencies last financial year.

Defence was the biggest spender in 2016-17, accounting for nearly a third of the total bill with $58.6 million going on overseas air travel.

It was followed by Foreign Affairs and Trade and its agencies ($30.3 million) and Immigration and Border Protection ($18 million).

Immigration spent nearly $1.8 million alone on flights with Air Niugini - the national airline of Papua New Guinea, home to Manus Island detention centre.

Qantas bagged the lion's share of the travel spend, getting paid about $57.6 million, ahead of ahead of Virgin Australia ($16.5 million).

Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines both received almost $12 million each.

The figures were released by Finance Minister Mathias Cormann in response to a question from Labor senator Jenny Macallister earlier this month.

TOP 5 PORTFOLIO AGENCIES

Defence - $58,583,831

Foreign Affairs and Trade - $30,373,758

Immigration and Border Protection - $17,993,889

Industry, Innovation and Science - $11,699,107

Attorney-General's Department - $10,529,212

TOP 10 AIRLINES

Qantas Airways - $57,616,265

Virgin Australia - $16,510,433

Etihad Airways - $11,981,092

Singapore Airlines - $11,935,776

Emirates Airlines - $9,915,816

British Airways - $4,531,307

Qatar Airways - $4,114,310

Air Niugini - $2,993,159

Cathay Pacific Airways - $2,632,748

Air New Zealand - $2,184,522


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Source: AAP


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