Federal politicians stranded by the Qantas grounding have scrambled to secure a passage on trains, buses, rental cars and - for a lucky few - planes to make it to Canberra in time for the resumption of Parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Prime Minister Julia Gillard flew back from Perth last night aboard her VIP jet, staffers and advisers having been ordered to make their way home independently to make way for ministers - including Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop - and other MPs left high and dry by the worldwide grounding of the national carrier.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also left Perth on a government jet over the weekend, but 17 heads of state who flew Qantas to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting were had to make alternative arrangements to return home last night.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Stephen Smith said there were several RAAF special-purpose aircraft flights scheduled to take Australian officials to Canberra after the CHOGM.
''Additionally, [special-purpose aircraft] flights have been tasked both today and tomorrow to ensure parliamentarians in Adelaide and Melbourne are able to undertake their duties in Canberra,'' he said.
A small number of charter flights were also being organised to ferry politicians and key personnel to Canberra where Parliament will sit today. A spokesman for the Leader of the House, Anthony Albanese, said the parliamentary sitting week would go ahead but the situation would be monitored as it would become clearer by this morning how many MPs and senators would miss the first day of sitting.