Taxpayers foot $1.4m in expenses for our former PMs

3 months ago 15

Taxpayers have footed a bill of almost $1.4 million in former prime ministers’ expenses this year, including flights, office supplies and a car accident insurance excess of $1000.

According to the latest data from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, Malcolm Turnbull has claimed the most since January at $325,935, while Julia Gillard spent the least, at $96,300.

The quarterly report tracks parliamentary spending on domestic travel including airfares, private cars and fuel, and office expenses, including facilities, supplies and telecommunications of current and former parliamentarians.

But only the seven living former prime ministers are entitled to an office space and its running costs, as well as flights for up to 30 domestic trips per year. The report doesn’t include their pensions or the costs of staff they are also entitled to.

The resources are provided to past leaders in recognition of their service and so they can meet the commitments expected of former prime ministers, according to the Department of Finance.

Turnbull was the only former prime minister to claim family travel this year. He claimed $2905 for a return trip from Sydney to Adelaide for his wife, former Sydney lord mayor Lucy Turnbull, to join him at a conference in August. He also claimed a $1000 accident insurance excess fee when his government car was sideswiped by another driver, part of $16,550 in car costs.

Our former prime ministers have claimed more than $1.4 million in expenses so far in 2025.

Turnbull has spent more on his Sydney office, costing taxpayers $294,857, than each of the other former PMs has claimed in total expenses this year. He declined to comment.

Office facilities were the highest expense recorded in the report for each former PM. Tony Abbott declared $229,221, and John Howard claimed $215,030 for his office this year. They are also based in Sydney, where CBD commercial real estate is expensive.

Kevin Rudd, 68, and Julia Gillard are both based overseas, which could contribute to their lower spending.

Rudd, who retains a government post as Australian ambassador to the United States, has spent $129,612 this year in his capacity as a former prime minister.

Keating and Abbott are entitled to pensions of about $300,000 per year, Howard’s is $345,000, and News Corp has estimated Rudd’s and Gillard’s to be about $200,000 per year each. The PMs can take it as an annual payment for life or opt for half that amount yearly plus an initial lump sum.

The pensions were a form of superannuation to support politicians after they exited politics, until Howard changed the rules in 2006 because the entitlements were seen to be too generous.

Since then, MPs elected after 2004 receive a standard superannuation fund, albeit with a 15 per cent Commonwealth contribution.

Turnbull and Scott Morrison were the first national leaders to leave office without the pension. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is still entitled to it because he was elected in 1996.

Abbott, 68, has previously criticised the Howard-era changes and called for the pension to be reinstated, so politicians could have financial security in retirement and prevent ministers and prime ministers from making government decisions with “one eye towards future job prospects”.

Outside his duties as a former prime minister Turnbull, 71, is a start-up investor, president of the International Hydropower Association, and public speaker.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is the President of the International Hydropower Association.

Morrison, 57, announced his new jobs when he retired from politics in 2024, including vice chair of corporate advisory firm American Global Strategies; a strategic adviser to venture capital company DYNE Maritime, which invests in technologies related to the AUKUS military pact; and an advisory board post for the Centre for a New American Security.

Morrison has spent $207,042 this year in his capacity as a former prime minister.

Gillard, 64, is chair of the Wellcome Trust, a charitable scientific organisation, a global institute for women’s leadership and a renewables-focused investment platform.

John Howard, 86, has spent the most on travel this year, including more than $12,000 on flights and more than $18,000 on car costs for a monthly $1290 lease and Commonwealth cars when interstate.

A spokeswoman for Howard said: “All of the expenses that are incurred by Mr Howard’s office are in line with the office of a former prime minister’s entitlement.”

Keating, Rudd, Morrison, Abbott and Gillard’s offices did not respond to a request for comment.

The number of living former prime ministers has swelled since Rudd and Gillard ousted each other in quick succession and Abbott was dumped after less than two years in the job. The number of former leaders is not unprecedented: there were eight former prime ministers while Ben Chifley was in office in 1947.

Paul Keating, 81, claimed no commercial transport expenses this year, but spent the most on telecommunications at $2342.87. He has been an investor and public intellectual since leaving office.

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