The Coalition has mocked Communications Minister Anika Wells by sending postcards to voters in her electorate highlighting her use of parliamentary travel entitlements.
The postcard, revealed by The Sunday Telegraph, depicts a collage of Ms Wells’ travel, including photos of her at sporting events and other excursions billed to taxpayers.
“Dear Taxpayers, I know you’re doing it tough, with high inflation, interest rates and power prices,” the postcard said.
“But thank you for generously funding: $100,000 in airfares for me and my staff to New York.”
The postcard goes on to list other expenses, including a $1,750 dinner in Paris, $3,600 for a trip that included a friend’s birthday in Adelaide, and $2,800 for a Thredbo ski trip.
“Thanks for letting my chauffeur-driven cars wait for me while I attended events,” the card read.
“Since Labor was elected, Australia has had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. But I’m doing just fine.
“I just wanted to say thanks for your generosity. Regards, Anika Wells, Labor MP.”
Shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh told Sky News Sunday Agenda that Ms Wells had used excessive taxpayer funds for lavish trips on “multiple occasions”.
“I think there has to be changes. There’s a public expectation and you just need to listen to people right across the country that are pretty unhappy right now,” she said.
“I think if it was that the shoe was on the other foot, I think Labor would be making the most of it.
“The Prime Minister needs to step up on this. He said that he’s just following the rules, yet we’ve heard that the rules were changed just before the last election.”
It was revealed on Saturday that the Albanese government changed the rules to make it easier for politicians to claim taxpayer-funded flights before the May 3 federal election.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended ministers’ use of family reunion entitlements on Sunday, telling Sky News the rules were not “set in stone”.
“My colleagues work extremely hard and as I said before from time to time they have utilised these family reunion arrangements,” he said.
“I’m not going to make judgments about others. Everyone’s responsibility, including mine, is to adhere to the rules. Those rules are not set in stone.
“From time to time we seek advice on making sure that they meet community standards. That’s what’s happened on this occasion. We’ve sought that advice.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will likely announce changes to parliamentary travel rules if he receives a recommendation from the independent watchdog.
Sky News understands that the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) will report back to Mr Albanese in the next week.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been found to have broken parliamentary travel rules during a taxpayer-funded trip she took to Perth WA, involving business class flights for her family.