Family travel perks curbed after MP expenses outrage
Politicians’ families could be discounted to economy class flights and stopped from claiming taxpayer-funded trips to major sporting events.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has moved to restrict MPs’ family reunion travel rights, following weeks of backlash over his charging of ministers’ wives from the public purse to fly to grand finals and special holidays.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has refunded almost $10,000 after charging taxpayers more than $20,000 for a family trip to Perth for a week’s holiday in 2023 following ministerial talks in the west.
“I received advice from the Independent Authority two and a half years ago that some of this was outside the rules for single use,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
“So I took advice on this and refunded the amount.”
Sports Minister Anika Wells has also come under fire for flying her husband to multiple major finals and the Australian Open, as well as taking her family into the snow while requesting family reunion flights.
Mr Albanese has written to the Independent Parliamentary Expenditure Authority for advice and has now written to the independent charges tribunal with advice on the changes for which the advice was taken.
The court determines politicians’ salaries and benefits.
“It is appropriate that we have an arm’s length process on these matters,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
In his letter, he recommended that family travel should be downgraded from business class to economy.
He said flights should also be restricted between Canberra and the MP’s local area, effectively eliminating access to nationwide rights.
But Mr Albanese suggested that spouses or partners of senior office holders should be able to request flights to events they are invited to that are directly related to a minister’s portfolio or parliamentary duties.
The Prime Minister also called for the court to take into account the circumstances of new parents or MPs with dependent children to ensure parents are not disadvantaged.
“We want a parliament that reflects Australia in all its diversity,” he said.
“That includes the fact that this parliament looks very different than it did when I came here in 1996, which is a good thing.”
The court will consider the recommendations in early January.
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