The Albanese government’s Ambassador for Gender Equality spent more than $335,000 of taxpayer money on airfare and hotels in just under two years.
Stephanie Copus-Campbell has flown to 24 countries since she was appointed to the role in December 2022 by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, according to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade documents obtained by the federal opposition.
The opposition government’s waste spokesman, James Stevens, said the documents, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, outlined a generous use of taxpayers’ funds.
“There is important progress to be made on gender equality,” said Mr Stevens. the daily telegraph.
“But this role appears to involve a lot of time sitting in airport lounges and on international business class flights, at great cost to the taxpayer.”
Copus-Campbell’s role was previously called “women and girls ambassador” and was created by former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard in 2011 to promote the rights of women and girls, “particularly in the Indo-Pacific region” .
While some of Copus-Campbell’s trips have been to that region, five of the most expensive trips were to the United States and four to New York.
The first was to attend a session of the Commission on the Legal and Social Status of Women in new york city and a bilateral visit to Washington in March of last year, which cost $23,442, including more than $13,800 in airfare and $6,425 in accommodations.
Stephanie Copus-Campbell has flown to 24 countries since being appointed Australia’s Gender Equality Ambassador in December 2022.
Copus-Campbell’s role was previously called “women and girls ambassador” and was created by former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard in 2011.
The following June, Ms Copus-Campbell, an experienced aid worker and former senior executive, attended the Australia-US Strategic Dialogue on Gender Equality in Washington and spent $21,600, including more than $20,000 on flights.
A couple of months later, in September, the American-born Ms Copus-Campbell spent $23,244, including more than $20,000 on flights to attend a “global meeting to counter the rollback on gender equality” in New York.
Ms Copus-Campbell returned to New York in March this year, as well as to Mexico and Chile for talks at a cost of more than $37,000, including paying more than $28,000 for flights.
In June, Ms Copus-Campbell combined a trip to New York with one to Mexico to attend talks including the “global technology dialogue” at a cost of $21,154.
A Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said Ms Copus-Campbell’s travel was within the scope of her role and promoted Australia’s interests and position in the world.
“That’s why there has been an ambassador role promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality for over thirteen years, and many of Australia’s closest allies and partners have equivalent ambassadors, for the same reasons,” said.
Stevens asked what Australian ambassadors posted overseas, particularly Kevin Rudd in the United States, were doing to need such regular support from Copus-Campbell.
“If Anthony Albanese is so confident that our ambassador to the United States is doing his job, he must explain why his gender ambassador has been to the United States five times in 15 months,” she said.
‘The Labor Party has spent $335,000 flying someone around the world to do exactly what the 100-plus ambassadors we already have should be doing.
“Together, climate change ambassadors, First Nations people and gender have spent almost $750,000 of taxpayer funds on international travel alone.”
Of that sum, the “climate change ambassador” has spent around $260,000 on travel, while the “First Nations Peoples ambassador” has spent $145,000.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.