Federal MP expenses: What it cost taxpayers to send Nick Champion, who represents Adelaide’s northern suburbs, to the UN for three months
He represents Adelaide’s poorest suburbs – but when Labor MP Nick Champion jetted off to the UN last year, he racked up a taxpayer-funded bill more than five times the average wage of his constituents.
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Almost $100,000 of taxpayer money was spent sending two federal MPs, including Labor’s Nick Champion, to a United Nations delegation for three months last year.
The weekly bill for Mr Champion’s trip alone was more than five times the average wage of voters in Elizabeth, in the heart of his electorate.
But the Member for Spence in Adelaide’s northern suburbs says Australia’s diplomatic presence in the world was now more important than ever due to climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Members of Parliament, understandably, play a role in that,” Mr Champion said.
“We are a middle power and we have to turn up otherwise our interests are not represented.”
The UN General Assembly posting in New York with the Liberal Party’s Ross Vasta cost taxpayers up to $94,000.
Parliamentary expense records for the December quarter show Mr Champion’s meals and accommodation from September to December totalled more than $40,000.
He said the accommodation was organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Mr Champion, who is deputy chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade said it was “a great honour” to represent Australia at diplomatic meetings.
Former SA senator Cory Bernardi also attended the delegation in 2016.
Expense records show Trade Minister Simon Birmingham accrued $20,200 in overseas travel costs from three trips to Thailand and one to China during the same period.
Mr Birmingham said countries from across the Indo-Pacific had agreed to finalise a landmark regional trade deal which will boost export opportunities for Australian businesses and create more local jobs.
Families Social Services Minister Anne Ruston racked up the highest domestic travel bill at $20,463.
She said it was vital to “get out on the ground and meet directly with people being supported by the social security system across the country”.
Taxpayers also paid about $2200 for members of Mr Bernardi’s family to attend parliament as he bid farewell following a 13-year political career.
The expense records reveal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint spent $72,000 in printing and communications.
Ms Flint said despite rising Australia Post costs, she was determined to let residents know about the work she was doing and how to contact her.
“As the most populous electorate in the nation it is expected that my office expenditure is higher than many,” Ms Flint said.
“Wherever possible I use digital and social media which keeps costs down, however, many older Australians still rely on postal communications, and they are entitled receive vital information from me just like everyone else in the community.”
A further $15,120 was spent on orders for Australian flags, and $725 on national symbols across the state.