Anthony Albanese billed taxpayers almost $754,000 in the first three months of 2023, newly released data reveals, while his colleague Tanya Plibersek was the minister who spent the most.
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority on Thursday published details of how much each MP, senator and some former MPs and prime ministers spent in the first quarter of 2023, more than a year after the fact.
This follows a government promise in December to do more to improve transparency around data.
The Prime Minister spent $181,299 on international travel, $6,474 on family travel and $481,236 on employee travel.
An unscheduled visit to Fitzroy Crossing from Broome on January 9 last year cost taxpayers $6,927, when Albanese traveled to the town after it was cut off by record levels of flooding that damaged up to 100 homes and forced evacuation. of more than 280 people.
Anthony Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) billed taxpayers almost $754,000 in the first three months of 2023, newly released data reveals.
Peter Dutton was the next biggest spender in the quarter, with a bill of $552,165.
More than $28,000 was spent on regular commercial transportation, while $371,000 was spent on employee travel.
Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek spent the most, with income totaling $390,495 for the quarter.
He spent more than $17,600 on international travel and $7,797.56 on regular commercial transportation.
His car costs totaled $8,145.90, including $2,362.34 for a private vehicle with a license plate.
It spent $27,374.53 on printing and communications during the quarter.
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Defense Personnel Matt Keogh spent $362,096 during the quarter.
Commerce and Tourism Minister Don Farrell charged taxpayers $351,138 and had the second-highest bill for international travel, $61,076.
That included a trip to India with Albanese in March. It is understood that two trips to the US in August and September 2022, and one trip to Europe and the UK in December 2022, were captured in the new data.
Rounding out the top 10 expenditures, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten’s expenditures totaled $349,663; Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen spent $332,745; Nationals leader David Littleproud with $329,908; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, with $329,714; and Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who spent $328,236.
Independent Kennedy MP Bob Katter had the highest auto-related expense claim of $34,290 and the largest unscheduled commercial transport bill of $41,648.
Among his ComCar charges was a $1,411 charge described as ‘Brisbane 2Feb23’, while an unscheduled trip from Julia Creek to Townsville from April 2022, declared in the January to March reporting period 2023, cost $9,760.
Katter has one of the largest electorates in the country and has electoral offices in Innisfail, Mount Isa and Mareeba.
In a statement, Katter said all of his travel was conducted “within rights and guidelines.”
“Kennedy’s electorate covers an area of ​​568,993 square kilometers (from the Gulf of Carpentaria and Mareeba in the north, to Boulia in the south and from the Queensland border in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east) and charter travel subsidies are for parliamentarians from large electorates can travel and provide services to their constituents,” he said.
Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured) was the top spending minister, earning a total of $390,495 during the quarter.
«Flying in small light aircraft, often single-engine, is stupidly dangerous and tortuously uncomfortable. But if you want to get to Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Karumba and Boulia, that’s what you have to do.
Mark Coulton, MP for the growing New South Wales electorate of Warialda, had the second highest number of claims for “unscheduled commercial transport”, totaling $39,009 and including an overnight trip from Dubbo to Broken Hill in January that cost $5,750.
Deputy Treasurer Stephen Jones, who came under fire last month for racking up a $43,000 Comcar bill between April and December 2022, claimed $19,000 for the cars in the first quarter of 2023.
“MPs can access travel, including flights and Comcar for their parliamentary business, in accordance with relevant rules and guidance,” a spokeswoman for Mr Jones said.