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Greens leader Adam Bandt has come under fire for racking up an eye-watering expenses bill of almost $1 million a year, which includes hundreds of thousands in print and two private jets.
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 strong opposition to CO2 emissions, Greens leader Adam Bandt has used private jets, parliamentary expenses reveal
Despite his party’s core policy platform of reducing C02 emissions, Mr Bandt used two private jets during the 2022 election campaign, landing taxpayers with the $23,000 bill.
One flight was between the Queensland regional centers of Townsville and Rockhampton on 7 March.
However, he also took a $15,000 private jet along the well-traveled route from Brisbane to Canberra to attend his party’s election campaign.
During the year, Mr. Bandt also spent $57,000 on domestic flights on himself and an eye-popping $372,000 in travel expenses for his 21 employees.
The $963,166 in expenses charged by Mr. Bandt is on top of his $314,000 salary and does not include the pay of his personal staff.
For his personal vehicle use, it is understood that Mr. Bandt leases a hybrid model.
Independent MP Dai Le questioned why Mr Bandt used private flights on well-served commercial routes given his climate stance.
“I am shocked by the news of parliamentarians overspending and surprised by the Greens’ use of charter flights when they are the party that opposes the use of fossil fuels,” she said. Daily Telegraph.
Sir. Bandt (pictured left with wife Claudia Perkins in 2022) claims nearly $1 million a year
Independent MP Dai Le questioned why Mr Bandt chartered flights on popular commercial routes given his opposition to fossil fuels
‘Ultimately, how we spend and what we spend on will be judged by the people when it comes time to cast their vote.’
Sir. However, Bandt found a defender in former Labor senator Stephen Conroy.
“To my shock, I will actually defend Adam Bandt,” Conroy told Sky News.
‘The amount of travel and work expenses, assuming they are within and there is no suggestion from any of these stories, not a single suggestion that anyone has gone outside the guidelines.
“These are legitimate work expenses.
‘A politician’s job is to communicate with their constituents – Adam Bandt is the leader of a political party so you would expect him to be out there at the front.’
A spokesman for Mr Bandt defended his expenses.
“As the leader of the third largest political party in Australia, you would expect Mr Bandt to engage in extensive travel and, unlike the Prime Minister and many ministers, he does not have access to government VIP flights,” the spokesman said.
“All of Mr. Bandt’s expenses are within rights.”