Communications minister Anika Wells repays $10,000 in incorrect travel expenses | Australian politics
Communications minister Anika Wells has issued more than $10,000 in refunds for erroneous travel claims identified amid controversy over her use of taxpayer-funded entitlements.
In a statement released on Friday, Wells said an audit by the Independent Parliamentary Expenditure Authority had identified four errors in Labor’s claims dating back to its 2022 election victory, totaling $8,092.89.
As a result, it refunded $10,116.11, including a 25% penalty charge for erroneous claims.
Wells’ official travel sparked a firestorm of criticism in late 2025 after it was revealed that he had spent more than $100,000 to fly to New York with an employee to promote the government’s social media ban on those under 16 at a United Nations event.
Wells has faced weeks of criticism and media scrutiny over his use of taxpayer funds for official travel and family reunion benefits, including attending major sporting events such as the AFL grand final and a Formula 1 race and taking his children to a ski event in Thredbo.
“The public audit found no misconduct or ethical violations,” he said in a statement Friday.
“The audit found that I made four errors over four years of travel, covering approximately 250 separate trips.
“These were four occasions where I chose what I thought was the more logical and cheaper option, but those choices were not allowed under the rules that I accepted and respected.”
Wells said he accepted the watchdog’s decision and apologized for “honest mistakes”.
Among the breaches highlighted in the inspection report was Wells’ husband Finn McCarthy’s trip to collect the couple’s child from Canberra in February 2022. Wells had contracted Covid-19 and was unable to travel.
A separate trip in May last year was revealed not to be official parliamentary business.
The return flight by McCarthy after the 2025 AFL grand final was found to be outside the rules because Wells flew separately and therefore completed his official business.
Wells also reimbursed some of the expenses for official travel in state cars.
It was determined that Wells’ travel to the UN event did not violate the rules, as he had “very limited flight options” at the last minute. The audit found Wells “duly took into account its obligation to provide value for money” on the trip.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Wells on Friday and rejected calls for his resignation over the abuses.
“He referred himself to it and it was appropriate for him to repay the money in accordance with the rules,” he said during a campaign visit with the Victorian premier in Melbourne.
“She did what the rules required. Anika Wells is a very good minister who did extraordinary work… and Anika Wells apologized.”
Albanese said Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, the shadow infrastructure minister, had been found to have breached travel rules but remained at the forefront of the opposition.
Controversy over Wells’ use of taxpayer-funded money has led to changes to politicians’ travel rules.
In December, Albanese announced new rules preventing family members of federal politicians from flying business class at taxpayers’ expense. The changes have also restricted travel for most families to destinations outside Canberra.
Under new rules, the spouse or partner of a senior politician will only be able to take advantage of taxpayer-funded trips to destinations outside Canberra if they are specifically invited to an official event.
