MP’s $113,000 Family Flight Frenzy: Nationals Politician Under Fire for Charging Taxpayers for Wife’s 27 Trips to Canberra
- Nationals MP Andrew Willcox spent more than $113,000 on family travel expenses in three years, flying his wife to and from Canberra 27 times
- The Dawson MP’s entitlement claims are seven times higher than the average Australian politician, sparking calls to restrict the allowance
- Willcox defends his spending, claiming it saves taxpayers money on staff costs and is ‘legitimate and fully compliant’ with parliamentary rules
In a shocking revelation, a Nationals MP has come under fire for charging taxpayers a staggering $113,000 to fly his wife to and from Canberra 27 times over three years, sparking calls to tighten the family travel allowance for politicians.
Andrew Willcox, who represents the North Queensland electorate of Dawson, spent an average of $37,000 per year on family travel expenses, seven times more than the average Australian politician, according to new analysis.
In a heated defence, Mr Willcox claimed every trip was “legitimate, fully compliant with IPEA rules, and directly supports my parliamentary work for constituents”. He argued that his wife’s travel was necessary to assist with parliamentary duties, including sitting weeks and committee work, and saved taxpayers money on staff costs.
However, his claims have been met with fierce criticism, with some politicians calling for the family travel entitlement to be dropped or restricted. Liberal shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh said the public’s expectations of politicians had “changed over the years” and it was time to reassess the allowance.
The scrutiny comes as new analysis reveals federal MPs and senators spent a whopping $1.1 million on flying and driving their loved ones to Canberra and around Australia in just 12 months.
Mr Willcox’s spending has raised eyebrows, particularly in comparison to other politicians. Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells has also come under fire for charging taxpayers to fly her husband to sporting events where she was attending for work.
Independent ACT senator David Pocock has questioned the need for business-class-level flight entitlements, saying “should family be flying business class? Should politicians be flying business class on two-hour flights? I don’t think so personally.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated that the matter would be left to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) to review and rule on.
In a stark contrast, Mr Willcox’s spending has sparked outrage among Australians, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in parliamentary expenses.