Chris Bowen billed taxpayers $20,000 for a week-long trip to the US – despite a similar trip by Treasurer Jim Chalmers costing just $2,000.
The Secretary of Climate Change and Energy traveled to New York, Pittsburgh and Washington from September 18 to 25, 2022 at a total cost to taxpayers of $20,312.
These costs appear to consist almost entirely of airfares, with Mr Bowen also claiming just $2.20 for staff international travel costs.
Sir. Bowen used the trip as an opportunity to discuss Australia’s climate goals on the world stage. He met with Bill Gates, Al Gore and drove an electric Ford F-150.
In total, Mr Bowen spent $269,997 in the last quarter of 2022 – $77,600 of which was travel costs for 12 staff.
A spokesman for Mr Bowen told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Parliamentarians have access to travel, including air and COMCAR for their parliamentary business, in accordance with the relevant rules and guidelines.’
Sir. Bowen used the five-day trip as an opportunity to discuss Australia’s climate goals globally. He met with Bill Gates, Al Gore and drove an electric Ford F-150 (above)
According to Mr. Bowen’s diary, he enjoyed a 30-minute meeting with billionaire Mr. Gates in the midst of the three conferences he attended.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers went on a similar trip – the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action – the following month.
Over five days, from 11 to 16 October 2022, Dr. invoiced Chalmers taxpayers a relatively modest $2,295 – $1,859 for an employee’s travel, a $378 ministerial allowance and $22 for passport expenses.
The disclosure of Mr. Bowen’s surprisingly high demands come as politicians face increased scrutiny of their taxpayer-funded spending – all taken from the government’s array of taxes and excise duties, which hurt Australians struggling with the soaring cost of living.
One of the biggest parliamentary spenders in the last quarter of 2022 was Resources Minister and Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King.
Ms King spent a total of $386,262 from October to December 2022, placing fifth in total spending behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Health Minister Mark Butler and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten.
Her employee travel expenses totaled $203,898 for the quarter, while a five-day trip to Japan in November set the taxpayer back $20,334.
One of the biggest parliamentary spenders in the last quarter of 2022 was Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King
Most recently, Greens leader Adam Bandt has come under fire for racking up an expense bill of nearly $1 million a year, including hundreds of thousands in print and two private jet flights
This included a $6,056 fare for herself, a $13,470 employee fare and a $378 surcharge.
A spokesman from Minister King’s office told the Daily Mail that Australia denied any wrongdoing.
“Parliamentarians have access to travel, including air and COMCAR for their parliamentary business, in accordance with the relevant rules and guidelines,” the statement said.
Most recently, Greens leader Adam Bandt has come under fire for racking up an expense bill of nearly $1 million a year, including hundreds of thousands on print and two private jet flights.
The anti-fossil fuel campaigner also claimed $12,000 on a taxpayer-funded car and petrol allowance, plus $29,000 on government COMCAR rides and taxis, according to Treasury figures.
Despite his party’s core policy of reducing C02 emissions, Mr Bandt used two private jets during the 2022 election campaign, costing taxpayers $23,000.
The $963,166 in expenses charged by Mr. Bandt was on top of his $314,000 salary and that of his personal staff.
Tony Burke, Minister for Arts and Workplace Relations and Leader of the House, was called out on the costs of his trip to Washington.
His scant diary shows only a handful of travel entries – and even includes a 15-minute journey from his residence as one of three official lines of business that day.
Burke (right), the arts and workplace relations minister and leader of the house, is at the center of controversy after he was called out over the cost of his trip to Washington
A graphic shows how much Tony Burke spent while in America
But Mr Burke claimed he was also involved in important key meetings which were not included in his official diary records.
He hopped over to the US with a staff member – traveling business class – as part of a delegation with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue.
His official diary for the event – from July 11 to 15, 2022 – suggests the trip wasn’t too strenuous, with just a handful of commitments, including a barbecue breakfast, a three-hour dinner and two 20-minute Microsoft Teams meetings.
Among the handful of commitments listed included the 15-minute time slot dedicated to ‘leaving’ his residence to go to another address – one of just three official tasks he carried out that day.
Burke had an official meeting in his diary during the four days. It was a meeting with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, who is a member of a committee on labor and pensions in the United States.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that any of the ministers have breached any rules or codes of conduct.