Specific rules apply to private air travel.

Prohibition

Members must not accept travel on a non-commercial chartered or private aircraft – other than one owned or leased by the Crown – that is connected, directly or indirectly, with the performance of their official powers, duties or functions unless:

• The Member receives approval from the Ethics Commissioner before accepting the travel, or
• The travel is required for the performance of the Member’s office.

Each of those exceptions is described below.

Exceptions to the Prohibition

1. Prior Approval from the Ethics Commissioner
When considering whether to approve private air travel, the Ethics Commissioner must consider the following factors:

• whether alternative methods of travel are available;
• whether approving the request will create a conflict or the perception of a conflict between a private interest and the Member's official powers, duties or functions and, if so, whether the public benefit of the travel outweighs the conflict or perception of one.

Within 30 days of approving a request, the following information will be posted on the Ethics Commissioner’s website:

• the name of the Member who accepted the travel;
• the dates, place of origin and destination of the travel;
• the name of the person who provided the travel;
• the circumstances in which the travel was accepted;
• any other information the Commissioner determines should be made public.

Requests for prior approval of private (non-commercial) air travel which have been denied are not posted to the website.

2. Travel is required
If a Member determines that private air travel is required for the performance of their office and they do not obtain prior approval from the Ethics Commissioner, then the Member must disclose the following information to the Commissioner within 30 days after travelling:

• the name of the Member who accepted the travel;
• the dates, place of origin and destination of the travel;
• the name of the person who provided the travel;
• the circumstances in which the travel was accepted;
• any other information the Commissioner requires.

That information is then posted to the Ethics Commissioner’s website.