Latest news and views about Australian politicians' expenses from the Guardian
November 2024
Australian Politics
Bridget McKenzie on the Qantas saga and conflicts of interest – Australian politics podcast
Guardian Australia’s political editor Karen Middleton speaks with federal shadow transport and infrastructure minister Bridget McKenzie
March 2024
Rules on MPs’ ad spending relaxed to lessen public servants’ workload
MPs claiming thousands on taxpayer-funded trips for official parliamentary duties that coincide with sporting events
February 2024
Amid Australia’s housing crisis, why are taxpayers propping up the price of empty holiday homes?
Maiy Azize
The sheer number of Airbnb and Stayz short-stay rentals is a symptom of a system that’s unfair at its core
December 2023
Albanese government accused of ‘secrecy by stealth’ after key details removed from report on MPs’ expenses
Expenses report, which previously included itemised spending, now has almost zero detail on how money actually spent in each category
September 2023
Greens accuse Richard Marles of not telling the truth in parliament over disclosure of VIP flights
David Shoebridge says statement calls into question deputy PM’s claim that keeping flight details secret complies with the rules, but Marles insists all his travel accords with ‘the relevant guidelines and security procedures’
July 2023
Andrew Laming being chased for further $8,000 by MP expenses watchdog over taxpayer-funded travel
Former Liberal politician says travel is ‘clearly parliamentary’ and suggests he wants to take rulings to court for judicial review
June 2023
Transparency concerns as vast backlog of Australian MP expense claims unlikely to be cleared until mid-2024
Government use of VIP jets open to potential misuse as defence stops publishing passenger lists
May 2023
Nationals leader repays Gold Coast travel expense claim he made after he ‘sought the wrong advice’
David Littleproud left parliament early in February to travel to the Gold Coast, three days after he and his spouse settled on a new apartment there
February 2023
Parliamentary travel rules under scrutiny after Gold Coast trip by Nationals leader
While David Littleproud’s taxpayer-funded flight falls within parliamentary guidelines, the Gold Coast apartment he settled on three days prior to the flight has reignited discussion over defining official MP travel expenditure
January 2023
Public left in the dark on federal MPs’ use of taxpayer-funded VIP jets
Key reporting systems designed to stop rorting have been offline for an extended period
May 2022
Andrew Laming says watchdog has done ‘nothing’ since he refused to repay expenses it found he wrongly claimed
Outgoing LNP politician rejects the finding, saying he will appeal andthat he has not been contacted by anyone chasing him for payment
April 2022
Matt Canavan billed taxpayers for trip with family to Brisbane, where he spoke at CPAC dinner
Conservative Political Action Conference promised to donate part of dinner’s proceeds to Canavan, who says there is no record of a donation and trip was legitimate parliamentary business
Craig Kelly billed taxpayers to fly to Melbourne anti-lockdown rallies
UAP leader defends the travel expenses, saying his activities at the protests were parliamentary business
Liberal Amanda Stoker repays taxpayers $2,600 for travel with family through Whitsunday region
Senator had parliamentary business on first half of trip but conceded rest of trip was ‘personal’ and paid invoice for costs plus penalty
March 2022
Liberal MP Andrew Laming will refuse to repay travel expenses after audit finds $8,000 in invalid claims
MP describes watchdog’s investigation as a ‘witch-hunt’, saying he disputes ‘every syllable’ of the report
October 2021
No precedent for ABC’s $200k payment in Louise Milligan defamation dispute, auditor general says
ABC made a ‘business decision’ to cover costs incurred by its reporter over tweets about Liberal MP Andrew Laming
July 2021
Coalition’s proposed anti-corruption commission would have no power to investigate recent controversies
Guardian analysis finds body lacks power and threshold too high to begin investigations, meaning car parks and sports rorts, and questions about expense claims would avoid scrutiny
March 2021
Peter Dutton charged taxpayers $465 for flight on day he was special guest at private event
Minister flew from Sydney to Maroochydore on same day he was to appear with Queensland Liberal leader at ‘long lunch’
About 173 results for Australian politicians' expenses