EXCLUSIVE: PM Cracks Down on Politicians’ Lavish Travel Entitlements After Expenses Scandals Rock Parliament
- Anthony Albanese announces sweeping changes to politicians’ travel rules, including economy-class flights only and scrapping of annual “Australia-wide” return trips
- Family members of federal politicians will no longer be able to fly business class, with taxpayer-funded travel outside of Canberra mostly banned
- New rules aim to end “budget politics” scandals, including Sports Minister Annika Wells’ use of parliamentary entitlements to fly family members to sporting events
- Changes come after revelations of MPs’ lavish spending, including Attorney-General Michelle Rowland’s $21,000 family trip to Perth
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unleashed a radical overhaul of politicians’ travel entitlements, cracking down on lavish spending and abuse of taxpayer-funded perks. The bombshell reforms, announced on Tuesday, will restrict federal politicians to economy-class flights and scrap an allowance for three annual “Australia-wide” return trips.
The changes, recommended by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA), aim to end the “budget politics” scandals that have rocked parliament in recent weeks. Sports Minister Annika Wells has been at the centre of the controversy, using her parliamentary entitlements to fly family members to sporting events, including AFL grand finals and Formula 1 events.
Wells, who has three young children, has also been accused of charging taxpayers almost $3,000 for a skiing trip to Thredbo, where she attended an event organised by Paralympics Australia. The minister has maintained that all her expenses have been within the guidelines, but referred herself to the IPEA for an audit to reassure the public.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has also been caught up in the scandal, agreeing to repay part of the costs claimed for a week-long family trip to Perth. The IPEA found that Rowland’s spending was outside the official guidelines, including $16,050 in flights for her family.
Under the new rules, family members of federal politicians will no longer be able to fly business class, with taxpayer-funded travel outside of Canberra mostly banned. Travel will be limited to between Canberra and the MP’s electorate, or a senator’s home state, with some exceptions for ministers and other senior politicians.
“We want a parliament that reflects Australia in all its diversity, and that includes the fact that this parliament looks very different from what it did when I came here in 1996 … that’s a good thing,” Mr Albanese said.
The Remuneration Tribunal will consider the recommendations provided by the government when it meets next in early January. The prime minister has asked the tribunal to give “careful consideration” to new mothers and fathers, to ensure that the changes do not disadvantage parents.
The reforms are a major blow to politicians who have long enjoyed lavish travel entitlements, with taxpayers footing the bill for millions of dollars in flights, accommodation, and other expenses each year. The changes are expected to save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Analysis by the ABC of parliamentarians’ family travel expenses for 2024-25 shows that taxpayers were billed more than $700,000 for travel to and from Canberra, while almost $400,000 was spent on flights between other destinations in Australia, and $60,000 on chauffeured Comcar and other car expenses.