Senior Coalition MPs claim $10,000 expenses at time of Liberal fundraiser

2 months ago 4

Three senior Coalition MPs, Ted O’Brien, Michaelia Cash and Dan Tehan charged taxpayers nearly $10,000 for travel and accommodation while attending a Liberal party fundraiser in Sydney in August, as the Albanese government pauses expense scheme reforms in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

The Albanese government is reeling from a series of revelations of MPs making questionable use of travel entitlements after Attorney-General Michelle Rowland revealed she would repay part of a $22,000 trip to Perth. The expenses furore was sparked by revelations that Communications Minister Anika Wells, a staffer and a public servant spent almost $100,000 on flights to New York.

Deputy opposition leader and shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week sought advice from the head of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority on possible changes to the multi-million dollar entitlement scheme, after Wells and Rowland both referred themselves for audits of their expenses.

Cabinet was scheduled to discuss expense reforms on Monday morning, but that has been delayed for at least the next few days.

O’Brien, Cash and Tehan claimed a combined $9563 for travel, accommodation and Comcar transportation when they travelled interstate to Sydney, where they attended an event hosted by the Liberal Party’s fundraising organisation, the Australian Business Network.

The fundraiser was held in Westpac’s offices at Barangaroo in Sydney. Events such as these charge thousands of dollars to buy a seat for lunch.

Guidelines of the IPEA, an independent agency that oversees MPs’ claims, state that expenses are supposed to be used for the dominant purpose of “parliamentary business”.

Deputy opposition leader and treasury spokesman O’Brien claimed a total of $2100, including $736 for flights to and from the Sunshine Coast, $960 for accommodation and $404 for Comcars in Sydney and Brisbane. During the trip O’Brien, from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, also delivered a speech to Liberal Party think tank, the Menzies Research Centre.

A spokesman for O’Brien said he conducted parliamentary business during his trip to Sydney, including meetings and a public address.

Senator Cash, the Perth-based opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman, charged a total $4247.11 including $2909.55 for a flight to Sydney, $960 for accommodation and $377 for Comcar transport in Sydney.

A spokesperson for Cash said the purpose of her trip was to conduct parliamentary business.

“She met with representatives from the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations in her capacity as shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs,” the spokesperson said.

Opposition energy spokesman Tehan, who represents Wannon in western Victoria, claimed $3215.72, including $1084.38 for flights to Sydney and back to Melbourne, $1383 for accommodation and $748.34 for Comcars.

A spokesperson for Tehan said he conducted parliamentary business in Sydney.

“The purpose of Mr Tehan’s travel to Sydney for 2.5 days was to undertake parliamentary and shadow portfolio meetings. This included an afternoon of briefings at the Transgrid Control Centre in Eastern Creek,” the spokesperson said.

O’Brien, Cash and Tehan did not respond to requests for excerpts of their diaries for the dates surrounding the Australian Business Network fundraiser. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley was contacted for comment.

Opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians Kerrynne Liddle was also in attendance, charging taxpayers $3168.88 between August 12 and 14. However, Liddle attended a meeting with the Fred Hollows Foundation to discuss eye health in Indigenous communities.

The Coalition is demanding Local Government and Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain refer herself to IPEA for a review of a trip she and her husband took to Sydney, and the New Year’s Test between Australia and South Africa in early 2023.

McBain, who lives on the NSW South Coast, and her husband took a flight from Merimbula to Sydney on January 4, returning the following day. She claimed in total $2250 in flights and Comcar travel under both family reunion and official duties rules.

Health Minister Mark Butler is also being targeted by the Coalition after revelations by news.com.au that he billed taxpayers, under family travel, $5500 in flights and accommodation for the Australian Open men’s final and the New Year’s Test in 2024, when he was minister responsible for sport.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.