Overview
- Mike Bush said using the police helicopter for the Hobart trip was "the wrong decision" and that a commercial option should have been sought.
- Victoria Police cited strong Tasmanian winds for ruling out the fixed-wing aircraft and said the flight used the secondary training helicopter.
- The force said operational capacity was unaffected because the primary helicopter and fixed-wing plane remained available.
- Officials said the flight incurred no extra taxpayer cost since it fell within prepaid monthly Air Wing hours under the lease.
- Bush and his staff officer will return to Melbourne on a commercial service, with the New Zealand police commissioner among those who flew to Hobart.