Family members of federal politicians will no longer be able to fly business class and taxpayer-funded travel outside of Canberra will mostly be banned under sweeping changes proposed in the wake of expenses scandals.
Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday he had received advice from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) on reforms to family travel entitlements for politicians and had now recommended those changes to the Remuneration Tribunal, which sets the rules, for consideration.
The prime minister said the advice included restricting spouses and partners of MPs and senators to economy class flights and scrapping an allowance for three annual “Australia-wide” return trips.
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Instead, travel would be limited to between Canberra and the MP’s electorate, or a senator’s home state, with some exceptions for ministers and other senior politicians like the opposition leader.
Mr Albanese said, under the new recommendations, the spouse or partner of a senior politician would be able to take taxpayer-funded travel to and from destinations outside Canberra provided they were specifically invited to an event.
That event must also be directly linked to the portfolio or parliamentary work of their senior political spouse.
“That is, if you’re an environment minister, it’s connected to the environment or parliamentary responsibilities as well,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the government had also asked the Remuneration Tribunal for “careful consideration” to be given to new mothers and fathers.
“To children, essentially who are dependents as well, to make sure we don’t disadvantage parents,” he said.
“We want a parliament that reflects Australia in all its diversity, and that includes the fact that this parliament looks very different from what it did when I came here in 1996 … that’s a good thing.”
Tribunal to consider advice
Under the current rules, politicians have been able to claim up to the value of nine return business-class return trips from their electorate to Canberra for their spouse, economy-class trips for their dependent children and a total of three Australia-wide return journeys for the entire family per year.
Senior politicians faced no restrictions on the number or location of taxpayer-funded flights for their family members.
Mr Albanese said the tribunal would consider the recommendations provided by the government when it met next in early January, noting he would have confirmed this earlier but delayed the announcement due to the Bondi terror attack.
“They will give consideration to [the advice]. That’s their job at arm’s length,” he said.
Annika Wells has been under fire for using her parliamentary entitlements to fly family members to sporting events. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Mr Albanese had sought advice from IPEA after almost two weeks of criticism of MPs’ use of family travel entitlements, sparked by revelations Sport and Communications Minister Anika Wells had frequently charged taxpayers for her husband to travel to sporting events.
This included spending more than $8,500 over three years in family travel expenses to Melbourne during AFL grand final weekends, as well as thousands spent flying to Formula 1, cricket and tennis events.
Ms Wells, who has three young children, also charged taxpayers almost $3,000 in July to take her family to Thredbo for a skiing trip where she was attending an event organised by Paralympics Australia.
Ms Wells has maintained all her expenses have been within the guidelines. However, she referred herself to the IPEA for an audit to reassure the public.
Other MPs were also scrutinised for their use of the entitlement.
Earlier this month, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland was told to repay some of the expenses she claimed for a week-long family trip to Perth, after the IPEA found the spending was outside the official guidelines.
Michelle Rowland has agreed to pay back part of the costs claimed for a family trip to Perth. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Ms Rowland referred the expense for an audit after it was revealed she had billed taxpayers more than $21,000 for the trip in 2023, including $16,050 in flights for her family.
In a statement, Ms Rowland’s office confirmed she would repay a “portion” of the trip’s cost following the IPEA’s advice.
Analysis by the ABC of parliamentarians’ family travel expenses for 2024-25 shows taxpayers were billed more than $700,000 for travel to and from Canberra, while almost $400,000 was spent on flights between other destinations in Australia, and $60,000 on chauffeured Comcar and other car expenses.