Clive Palmer has lost a
bid to get a suppression order concealing the already widely known fact
that he owns a private airplane after a judge rejected claims the
knowledge could put his life in danger.
Mr Palmer, who was
repeatedly been photographed next to the estimated $70 million aircraft
during the 2013 federal election campaign, now believes fresh media
coverage about its existence poses "safety issues".
The
application for the confidentiality order was made as part of Mr
Palmer's fight against the public release of flight records for his jet
that was ordered by the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner.
The departure and arrival records for all aircraft
that use Australia's airspace are held by commonwealth regulatory agency
Airservices Australia, which has traditionally ruled that release of
this type of information is in line with public policy about
transparency and does not violate privacy laws.
Fairfax Media was
supposed to be granted access to the flight plans under
freedom-of-information laws, a decision that is now being challenged by
Mr Palmer's company, Palmer Aviation, in the Administrative Appeals
Tribunal.
Mr Palmer's legal counsel argued the existence of the
legal proceeding should be suppressed from the public and a pseudonym
used in all documentation that refers to the politician and mining
magnate and his company.
"Our submission is that the basis of the
business of Palmer Aviation is to provide confidential business travel
to Mr Palmer and his invited guests. At the crux of that business is the
confidential nature of the transportation and Mr Palmer and his invited
guests' whereabouts…," Tracey Miley said.
"The only issue I can
point to is safety issues if the registration of the plane is ...
registration number of the plane is made known publicly."
But AAT deputy president Philip Hack found the submission was "at too high a level of abstraction".
"As
I understand it, Mr Palmer is a figure of some notoriety. He is a
member of the House of Representatives. He is frequently in the media,"
he said.
Deputy president Hack noted that aircraft registration
numbers were already a matter of public record and refused to grant the
confidentiality order.
The application was made despite Mr Palmer
routinely using the intercontinental Bombardier Global Express - which
has been emblazoned with a logo of the Palmer United Party - as a
backdrop for photo opportunities and press conferences. The plane is
registered in the Isle of Mann, an off-shore tax haven.
PUP is
under increasing pressure from factional splits, with Mr Palmer recently
blasting fellow member Jacqui Lambie as a "drama queen".
Mr
Palmer, whose legal counsel is now seeking to suppress all
administrative documents relating to the FOI application, is also hoping
to make a personal submission to the tribunal over concerns about
whether his "personal information and safety" have been adequately
considered.
- Source: http://www.smh.com.au
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