‘Very comfortable’: Minister’s call on family travel expense scandal
Cabinet minister Chris Bowen has weighed in on the family travel expense scandal, saying it was appropriate for two colleagues to lead them to the audit and showing they were “very comfortable” with their actions.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and Communications Minister Anika Wells referred themselves to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for using the family travel expense privilege.
It was revealed that Ms Wells took her family to New York and major sporting events cost taxpayers $107,000, while the Attorney General flew her family to Western Australia for $21,685.
There is no allegation of wrongdoing by either minister, but the allowance has come under scrutiny because of family travel costs, which cost taxpayers $1.1 million last financial year.
When asked about his spending, Mr Bowen said the action was appropriate for ministers to take.
Speaking on Saturday he said: “I think when two ministers talk about themselves it shows that they are very comfortable with full scrutiny and say ‘look, please have a look at this’.”
“The Prime Minister has asked for advice and I think that is the correct approach from the independent authority on what to change.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought advice from the independent watchdog on whether parliamentary authorization rules should change amid this saga.
The opposition leader also offered to meet Mr Albanese to develop reforms to parliamentary spending guidelines.
Speaking of Ms Wells, Ms Ley said: “She hasn’t shown an ounce of remorse. She hasn’t stepped forward and apologized or understood what Australians are struggling with.”
Ms Ley, who resigned as health minister almost a decade ago amid a similar authorization scandal, said: “I made a mistake. I raised my hand, apologized to the Australian people and held myself accountable to the department’s code of conduct.”
“He hasn’t shown the slightest remorse. He hasn’t stepped up and apologized or understood what Australians are going through.
“He himself did not mention his Prime Minister’s ministerial code of conduct, but it is the responsibility of the prime minister who trumpets this code of conduct and talks about transparency, honesty and new standards.”
