Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, has requested the independent expenses watchdog to provide guidance on revamping travel perks for Members of Parliament (MPs). This move follows a mounting backlash over the entitlements of politicians, which has sparked public outrage.
The announcement comes as Attorney General Michelle Rowland confirmed that she has referred her travel expenses to an independent audit, following in the footsteps of her cabinet colleague Anika Wells. Rowland has been under scrutiny after reports surfaced of her spending $21,685 on flights and travel allowances for a family trip to Perth in 2023.
Government Response to Public Outcry
In response to more than a week of headlines exposing the extent of MPs’ lavish spending, Albanese has asked the head of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) to explore possible changes to parliamentary entitlements. Although the Prime Minister had previously expressed his desire for IPEA’s advice at various press conferences, Friday marked the first time he explicitly stated that such advice would be sought.
When questioned about the timing of his request, Albanese remarked, “I’ve done it publicly at multiple press conferences – if you go back and have a look at it.”
Later on Friday, IPEA released a statement confirming that its chief executive had received a request from the Prime Minister to provide preliminary advice on certain aspects of parliamentary travel. The agency stated it would respond to Albanese’s request “in due course” and refrained from disclosing further details.
“IPEA operates independently of government. The CEO works with the members of the authority at arm’s length from government to ensure the agency’s actions and decisions remain impartial,” the statement read.
Political Reactions and Potential Reforms
Albanese also indicated that “at least two” MPs had referred themselves to the watchdog for investigation, though he did not specifically name Rowland. He stated, “I’ve asked IPEA for advice. 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, and we’ll take that on board.'”
A spokesperson for Rowland confirmed she was the second MP to request an examination of her expenses claims. “The attorney-general has referred a trip from 2023 to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for advice,” they said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, expressed her willingness to collaborate with Albanese on reforming the system, offering a potential resolution to a controversy affecting politicians from all major parties. “I can sit down with the prime minister anytime and go through measures that he would like to propose to implement to restore that public trust,” Ley stated.
Calls for Accountability
Ley criticized Wells’ expenses as “scandalous” and questioned whether the minister should step aside during the IPEA audit. She also called for an investigation into potential breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. “If he [Albanese] can’t stand there and tell the Australian people that this minister has not breached the code of conduct, then she should resign, stand aside,” Ley told Sky News.
Implications and Future Developments
Health Minister Mark Butler indicated that the government would “welcome” IPEA’s broader examination of Wells’ travel claims, including potential recommendations for systemic changes. “If the IPEA recommended legislative changes, I’m sure that’s what we would do,” Butler told Sunrise on Friday.
These comments from one of Albanese’s closest political allies suggest the government is open to reforming the entitlement system, bowing to public pressure after revelations about parliamentarians’ travel spending.
Politicians embroiled in the growing expenses scandal, including Wells, Albanese, and Trade Minister Don Farrell, have defended their use of family travel rules, arguing that attending events like the Australian Open and major NRL and AFL matches falls within the rules.
Recent reports revealed that there is no cap on the number of spousal flights senior ministers and other officeholders can claim under the current regulations. These entitlements are described as “relevantly unlimited in respect of total expenses claimable each year.”
However, politicians have faced widespread criticism for their spending, with many arguing that attending sporting events and charging taxpayers for social occasions or family trips is out of step with community expectations.
The move to seek IPEA’s advice represents a significant step towards addressing these concerns and potentially reforming the travel perks system. As the public awaits IPEA’s recommendations, the government faces the challenge of balancing transparency and accountability with the practical needs of parliamentary duties.
