Anthony Albanese moves to slash travel perks for MPs after expenses scandal
Anthony Albanese is “hopeful” the Fees Tribunal’s recommendations will restore public confidence after several ministers were mired in controversy over the use of taxpayer-funded travel.
The Albanian government has written to the independent watchdog after receiving advice from the Independent Parliamentary Expenditure Authority (IPEA) on the exercise of MPs’ travel rights.
Several senior ministers, including Sports Minister Anika Wells and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, were hit by controversy earlier this month after it was revealed tens of thousands of dollars had been spent transporting ministers to events such as the AFL Grand Final weekend and Thredbo.
Ms Rowland agreed to reimburse some of the expenses she claimed for a week-long family trip to Perth after IPEA found the expenses were outside official rules.
The political crisis, which has also ensnared Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, has sparked questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer-funded travel.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister recommended to the Court that federal politicians should no longer be allowed to fly business class and that taxpayer-funded travel outside Canberra should be mostly banned, on the advice of IPEA.
The recommendation included limiting spouses and partners of MPs and senators to economy class and a limit on return travel “Australiawide” to three times a year.
Instead, travel will be limited to those between Canberra and their MP’s electorate or senator’s hometown, with some exceptions for ministers and other senior politicians.
On Wednesday, Mr Albanese said he was “hopeful that the changes submitted to the court will restore confidence in the system”.
“The Pay Tribunal will advise us… we do not make our own rules and it is appropriate for politicians not to set their own pay and conditions,” Mr Albanese said.
“I understand that the community has real and legitimate concerns about these issues,” he said, noting that IPEA had requested advice to the government.
“The recommendations made to the court are consistent with what they want and anything IPEA puts forward would be something I would support as Prime Minister.”
