‘I work really hard’: minister defends family travel
Sports minister Anika Wells is bracing herself as a hard worker amid pressure to use taxpayers’ money for family trips.
Anthony Albanese is also behind him, saying he “absolutely” has full support to continue in cabinet.
Ms Wells was referred to the parliamentary expenses office after it was revealed she had repeatedly billed the public purse for chauffeured cars and family gatherings.
“I’m incredibly serious about my job. I work really hard and try really hard every day to fulfill my duties,” he told ABC Brisbane on Wednesday.
“I absolutely understand, appreciate and agree that the powers of parliamentarians need to be examined.
“Therefore, in the interest of absolute transparency, I have always disclosed everything. I have always followed the rules and I am happy that the independent regulator has re-inspected my travels.”
A range of travel allowances are available for ministers and MPs, including the family reunification allowance which Ms Wells and others have benefited from.
Asked if her husband would be able to enjoy major sports games, Ms. Wells said family travel rules were nothing new.
“Nobody expects amnesty from the political sector. I understand that,” he said.
“Yes, when we decide when to exercise the right to family travel, I always think about how it will look to people.”
Ms Wells charged taxpayers almost $1000 for a chauffeur for seven hours on the day of her Australian Open appearance in 2023 and more than $1200 for nine hours on the day of the NRL and NRLW grand finals in 2022, parliamentary expense records show.
The cabinet minister equipped his electoral office with a secure communications facility in October 2024, when he became minister for sport and aged care, despite the fact that a similar room was around 20 minutes away by car.
The Prime Minister rejected the suggestion that Ms Wells should be criticized or sanctioned for claiming the funding.
“It should come as no surprise that a sports minister attends sporting events,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio.
He also responded to opposition claiming that Ms. Wells was corrupting the system by reminding him of how the appropriations framework was set up.
“We have a detached approach to this, which was put in place by the previous government after Susan Ley had to resign after going to the Gold Coast and buying property,” he told Nine’s Today programme.
“Anika Wells did the right thing, but she was there to support this important legislation.”
The current opposition leader resigned from his ministerial post in the Turnbull government in 2017 after it was revealed he had used taxpayer funds to buy a property on the Gold Coast.
This led to MPs and senators being required to report their spending to an independent monitor on a monthly basis.
Ms. Wells first came under criticism for the flights, which cost almost $100,000 for herself and two others.
The embattled minister flew to New York during the United Nations General Assembly, where he addressed Australia’s social media ban on children under 16.
Other politicians have also faced scrutiny over their spending, including Business Secretary Don Farrell claiming more than $100,000 for family reunion travel from 2022.
Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh defended her decision to fly herself and her son to Queensland to attend the Australian National Judo Championships on the Gold Coast.
He said he supports restricting or eliminating rules to reduce rights.
A leading figure in the coalition told the ABC: “If you don’t make some sort of change this will continue to happen, people will bend the rules.”
“The Prime Minister must show leadership on this issue, stand up and make change.”
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