By political reporter Latika Bourke
Photo: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been accused of playing politics after refusing a Labor request to fly MPs on his private jet. (AAP: Jane Dempster)
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been accused of "pettiness" for refusing to let a handful of Labor MPs accompany him on his private jet to attend a bipartisan event in Sydney.
The event was held to celebrate success stories in Western Sydney at the Rooty Hill RSL on Tuesday, June 3 when Federal Parliament was sitting in Canberra.
Earlier this month, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asked Mr Abbott if he, an adviser, and three of his MPs could catch a lift to save taxpayers' money and the MPs' time.
But Mr Abbott rejected the Opposition's request.
The Prime Minister and a large number of his MPs from western Sydney flew to the event and were back in Canberra in time for Mr Abbott’s 7:00am media conference the next day.
Mr Shorten caught a commercial flight and stayed in Sydney overnight at taxpayers' expense, while his backbenchers spent about six hours driving up and back in time to attend Parliament the next morning.
Western Sydney Labor MP Ed Husic has accused the Government of playing petty politics.
"They knew MPs from both sides were attending this event, they could have saved costs by flying everyone together," he told the ABC.
"Instead, the Coalition wanted to be petty about who flew with them.
It seems odd the Abbott Government would engage in political games ahead of saving taxpayer dollars.
Western Sydney Labor MP Ed Husic
"As a result, the round trip probably cost the taxpayer more than it should have because - as usual - the Coalition played politics."
Mr Husic says he drives between Sydney and Canberra regularly so he did not care "either way" about the flight, but said it was at odds with the Government's own rhetoric about being "adult" and fiscally responsible.
"It seems odd the Abbott Government would engage in political games ahead of saving taxpayer dollars," he said.
"For a government screaming about budget emergencies, they don't seem too interested in cutting their own spending."
A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister has defended the decision saying Mr Abbott wanted to talk policy with his colleagues.
"Flights on Special Purpose Aircraft (SPA) are working flights and the Prime Minister and MPs openly discussed policy matters regarding Western Sydney and other topics," the spokeswoman told the ABC.
"It was not appropriate for Mr Shorten and his staff to be present during those discussions."
The Prime Minister's office says a "large number" of Government MPs accompanied Mr Abbott on the SPA and said "where appropriate" opposition MPs are similarly accommodated.
"I note that many requests for Mr Abbott and members of the Coalition to travel on SPA were declined during previous Labor governments," the spokesperson said.
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