Minister’s New York dash to spruik social media ban cost more than $100,000

Communications Minister Anika Wells’ trip to New York to spruik Australia’s teen social media ban at the United Nations General Assembly has cost taxpayers more than $100,000.

Wells travelled with two staff to the meeting in September after delaying her departure following the Optus Triple Zero outage that was linked to three deaths when calls to emergency services would not connect.

Communications minister Annika Wells travelled to New York to spruik Australia’s landmark teen social media ban.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Wells came under fire for still going on the trip in the wake of the outage.

The costs of her travel were revealed when the government replied to an opposition question on notice from Senate estimates in October.

Flights for Wells and two staff cost almost $100,000.

Wells’ return flights to New York cost $34,426.58, her deputy chief of staff’s cost $38,165. Events and accommodation raised the cost further.

The government said in its response that Wells had met with international counterparts, multilateral organisations and industry groups to share information about the looming teen social media ban.

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said Wells’ decision to fly to New York following the Triple Zero crisis was offensive and “at an enormous cost to Australian taxpayers”.

“This is another example of Labor’s wrong priorities when so many Australians are struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table,” she said.

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A government spokesperson said Wells attended the General Assembly to meet with world leaders about the new social media laws.

“The minister attended several events that garnered worldwide attention for how Australia is leading the world in online safety,” they said in a statement.

“The minister also stood alongside Australian parent Emma Mason who shared her powerful story with leaders from across the globe who are now preparing to introduce similar laws.”

Australia’s social media ban for children under 16 comes into effect in one week.

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