I refer to Ministerial Memorandum No. 88/31 in which Ministers were requested to submit a three-monthly return of their use of chartered aircraft. The system has been in operation for some time and the guidelines have now been reviewed in the light of experience.

These revised guidelines are issued for the information of Ministers wishing to charter a light aircraft or helicopter to enable special commitments to be met when alternative means of transport are not practicable. The journey to be under taken.. should be for Government business and considered essential for the performance of Ministerial duties.

1. Due care and economies are to be exercised by Ministers' staff when making arrangements for air charters.
2. In the first instance an approach should be made to the Forestry Commission or the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to determine availability of their aircraft. These should be used when available and competitive.
3. If aircraft operated by the Forestry Commission and the NPWS are not available for a particular charter, the Minister should obtain at least two quotes for comparable aircraft from separate air charter companies. The company offering the lesser quotation should be used. Ministerial staff will find the Sydney Yellow Pages "Aircraft Charter and Rental Services" classification) a useful source of names of commercial operators.
4. Although the Premier's prior approval to charter aircraft is not required, Ministers are required to lodge a periodic return of air charter usage on the form attached. It will be noted that the completed form should show the date of each charter; an outline of the journey undertaken; name of the charter operator and the type of aircraft used-this should indicate whether the aircraft used was a helicopter or fixed wing type; cost; quotations obtained if the operator was a private company; and the reason for using a charter in preference to a scheduled flight or other transport.

These returns are now required only six monthly with the next return due for the six months to 29 February, 1992 and thereafter at the end of each August and February. Nil returns are required where no charter has been used in the reporting period.

Ministers will note that in determining these arrangements it is intended that use be made of the charter facilities offered within the Government by the Forestry Commission and the NPWS. Both organisations have modern aircraft of a type suitable for use by Ministers which are available for charter at rates generally more favourable than those offered by private operators.

It should also be noted that where an aircraft available from within a Minister's portfolio is used for travel which might otherwise have been taken on commercial carriers, that use should be reported with appropriate costings. Other use of the aircraft for portfolio business need not be included.

These procedures are designed for the greatest economy and uniformity in use of charter aircraft and the co-operation of Ministers is sought in continuing these arrangements.

I would ask Ministers to ensure that their staff are informed of Memorandum which is to replace Memorandum No. 88/31.

RG Humphry
Director-General