The prime minister says he has asked an independent watchdog to provide advice on whether the taxpayer-funded perks available to politicians should change, amid a rolling expenses saga that has dominated debate for over a week.

It began with reports that Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells had spent almost $100,000 on last-minute flights to give a speech in New York and has since expanded to include scrutiny over her use of family travel arrangements and taxpayer-funded drivers.

She referred her claims to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for review earlier this week, after a stream of questions over her spending distracted from the rollout of the social media ban for under-16s.

Ms Wells and Anthony Albanese have both repeatedly stressed that all her claims fell within the guidelines, while other politicians from across the spectrum have also had their use of entitlements questioned. 

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has also submitted her expenses to the watchdog for an audit, after it was reported that she billed taxpayers more than $21,000 for a week-long family trip to Perth.

Calls have been mounting for the prime minister to respond to the growing furore with action, and on Friday he would not explain when or how he requested the advice, beyond that he had asked “the head of IPEA”. 

“At least two members of parliament have referred themselves for the details of their audit, but in addition to that, I’ve said to IPEA, ‘Please give us some advice,'” he said.

“When that advice is received, we will make a decision in the usual way.”

Asked repeatedly about the timing of the request, Mr Albanese said he had done so publicly “at multiple press conferences”.

“I reach out publicly all the time,” he said.

A day earlier, at a media conference alongside Ms Wells, the prime minister brushed aside questions on whether a review of the rules was needed, telling reporters that he did not want to “influence that from the top” and that he was “not the finance minister”.

“The rules have been there since they were put in place by the former government,” he said. 

The expenses authority is responsible for monitoring compliance with the rules and can make recommendations when it audits politicians, but the guidelines themselves are set by regulation, administered by the finance minister and special minister of state.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has repeatedly said she is open to “looking at the rules” and has written to Mr Albanese requesting a meeting to discuss how trust in the system can be strengthened, “so community expectations are being met”.

Politicians defend spending as within rules

The Coalition has focused its criticism of Ms Wells on whether her actions breach the ministerial code of conduct and has called for her to step aside while the prime minister’s department reviews that question.

Those guidelines require ministers to avoid “wasteful or extravagant use” of public resources and ensure “due economy”.

Pollies charge taxpayers $1.1m for family travel in 12 months

Family reunion travel is under scrutiny as new analysis shows federal MPs and senators spent $1.1 million on flying and driving their loved ones to Canberra and around Australia in 12 months.

Ms Wells has come under particular fire for her use of “family reunion” entitlements, which she used to bring her partner to high-profile sporting matches and her family to Thredbo for a ski weekend.

Parliamentarians are entitled to claim expenses for some family travel, including three Australia-wide business class return flights to where the politician is working and travel to Canberra from their home up to the value of nine return business class flights per year. 

The provisions are used widely across parliament. 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.

Trade Minister Don Farrell was the largest user of family travel over the 12 months, spending a total of $48,178, and independent West Australian Senator Fatima Payman was the second highest spender on family travel, with a bill of $41,438 over the financial year.

Meanwhile, Nationals MP Andrew Wilcox charged taxpayers more than $80,000 to fly his spouse to and from Canberra 27 times in two years, expenses he claimed were “legitimate” and “fully compliant” with the guidelines.

And Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has faced questions after The Australian reported that she spent almost $50,000 to fly her husband to and from Canberra, where he works as a lobbyist.