Labor MP Emma Husar ‘attended pop music concert on taxpayer-funded trip’

Labor MP Emma Husar has come under fire again after allegedly travelling to a Bruno Mars concert instead of attending an NDIS hearing on a taxpayer-funded trip.

Just months after the 38-year-old member of parliament was investigated over claims of alleged workplace bullying and harassment, the Daily Telegraph reports she skipped the second day of the Queensland parliamentary hearing in March to travel to the concert in Brisbane instead.

According to the report, she first attended a hearing in Cairns on March 14, but skipped a second one scheduled in Townsville the next day to fly to Brisbane – all part of a trip she has billed the taxpayers for.

Following the live concert, she then attended two work-related meetings – one with a homeless service and the other with a domestic violence call centre. The concert tickets themselves were already paid for as a birthday present from Stone.

While it’s claimed Stone called her Brisbane trip “adventure time” in a Facebook post at the time, Husar commented below it: “Come at me baby.”

Husar reportedly had no work commitments in Brisbane on the day of the concert, yet claimed $114 for using a government-chauffeured Comcar. Following the concert, it’s claimed the pair then stayed at a hotel also believed to have been paid for by taxpayers.

Meanwhile, her flight back from Brisbane to Sydney on March 15 is said to have cost taxpayers $492.

Stone is part of Penrith Police, which recently investigated a domestic dispute involving Husar’s family. It’s not thought that the investigation had anything to do with their subsequent outing together. NSW Police have since confirmed Stone accompanied Husar to the concert.

“As part of her responsibilities, Chief Inspector Stone is required to engage with leaders throughout the Command as part of our wider and varied partnerships for crime prevention,” a spokesman said.

Read more: Labor MP Emma Husar used taxpayer-funded car to ‘visit divorce lawyer’

“Chief Inspector Stone and Ms Emma Husar MP have known each other as a result of attending the same school together. They attended a concert together in Queensland earlier this year.

“There have been no allegations of misconduct in relation to Chief Inspector Stone concerning her policing responsibilities and her friendship with Ms Husar.”

A spokesman for Husar told The Australian: “Of course no work expenses were used to attend a concert. Any assertion otherwise is preposterous.”

After detailing the work events she did attend on the trip, the spokesman added: “These meetings were relevant to Emma’s role as secretary of the opposition status of women caucus committee and noting her involvement in domestic violence policy development.”

It comes after it was claimed the Labor politician used a taxpayer-funded Comcar limousine to get to appointments with her divorce lawyer. The cars are only intended to be used when pollies are travelling on official parliamentary business.

I’m a survivor of DV with kids at home. Stalking my house and my family – by sitting in a car with dark windows out the front – is poor form, not in the public interest & dangerous @dailytelegraph. I shouldn’t have to call the police again.

— I’m just Emma 👑 (@emma_husar) July 31, 2018

Husar has since tweeted addressing the latest reports, before accusing reporters of waiting outside her home. She wrote: “I’m a survivor of DV with kids at home. Stalking my house and my family – by sitting in a car with dark windows out the front – is poor form, not in the public interest & dangerous @dailytelegraph. I shouldn’t have to call the police again.”

Starts at 60 has contacted Emma Husar’s team and the Daily Telegraph for comment.

What do you think of this latest scandal?