Attorney-General Michelle Rowland shouldn’t resign after she slugged taxpayers more than $21,600 for family travel, the treasurer says, as the independent expenses watchdog reviews entitlements for politicians.
Two senior cabinet ministers, Ms Rowland and Health Minister Mark Butler, were the latest to be dragged over the coals for their use of the dubious allowance.
Ms Rowland is reportedly paying back some of a claim relating to a July 2023 trip, revealed by Sky News on Sunday, which included ministerial meetings and a family holiday.
The Daily Telegraph also revealed Mr Butler claimed $5500 for family members to join him at the Australian Open and an SCG Test match.
The claims heap further pressure on Anthony Albanese to overhaul the scheme to meet community expectations.
As more ministers have become embroiled, the prime minister has asked the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) to look at changes to entitlements.
The attorney-general followed cabinet minister Anika Wells, in referring her travel expenses to an independent audit.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers rejected calls for his colleague to step down.
“Michelle has done the right thing in asking the IPEA to take another look, as has Anika … to make sure that everything that’s happened here is within the rules,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“I think that’s appropriate. I also think it’s appropriate that the PM has sought advice.
“We’ll get that advice in due course, and we’ll consider it.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley previously resigned in 2017 as the then health minister after using a taxpayer-funded trip to buy property on the Gold Coast.
Ms Ley has offered bipartisan support to reform the rules for politicians.
Why Politicians’ travel entitlements no longer pass the Pub Test
The scrutiny began over flights for Ms Wells and two others that cost almost $100,000.
The communications minister flew to New York to promote Australia’s looming social media ban for under 16s at the United Nations General Assembly.
It later emerged Ms Wells charged taxpayers $1000 for a dinner in Paris, as well as several thousand dollars for her husband to attend AFL grand finals with her.
She has also come under fire for spending almost $1000 for a chauffeur to wait for seven hours while she attended the Australian Open in 2023.
Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh said there had to be changes.
“It’s this excessive use of taxpayer money for big events, and that started with the trip to New York and the $1000 dinner,” she told Sky News.
“People don’t think that attending sporting events with your husband coming down just for that event is work … there’s an expectation that’s been broken with the Australian people.”
Ms McIntosh again defended her decision to fly herself and her son to Queensland, where he was taking part in the Australian National Judo Championships on the Gold Coast.
She said she had work engagements every single day she was in the Sunshine state.
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