MPs expenses: Labor’s Nick Champion and Independent politician Rebekha Sharkie billed the most in SA for taxpayer-funded office costs

Which federal MPs have billed you the most for their “office costs” of printing and communication?

A retiring federal MP and a popular independent politician have racked up some of the country’s biggest taxpayer-funded office costs in three months, official new figures show.

Nick Champion, 50, who quit federal parliament after 15 years as the Labor MP for Spence, claimed $107,537.47 for office and administrative expenses in the final quarter of last year.

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority figures also show the local MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, 49, billed $104,713.77 for similar costs between October and December.

They spent $99,816 and $89,069.14 respectively on printing and communication.

The Commonwealth data, which is released every three months and published late on Friday, shows the claims were among the highest in the country but both MPs said it was within budgeted entitlements. Mr Champion advised the total budget was $272,740.42.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas and Federal MP Nick Champion meet locals at Munno Para. Picture: Supplied

The next highest office claims were from Liberal MP for Sturt, James Stevens, 39, with $69,650.48, followed by Labor’s Adelaide MP Steve Georganas, 62, with $55,412.39 and his

party colleague for Makin Tony Zappia, 69, with $53,552.29.

In comparison, the lowest office claimers were Liberal Senator Andrew McLachlan with $1072.68, followed by colleagues Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, 58, at $5185.60 and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, 47, with $6674.78.

Mr Champion, who was elected to state parliament at the recent election as the Labor MP for Taylor, defended his costs due to extensive post to northern suburb constituents.

The newly minted Cabinet Trade and Investment Minister also conducted a “closing tour of shopping centres” that included Elizabeth, Parabanks, Munno Para and Craigmore.

Mr Champion, who has lived in North Adelaide since 2017, has come under fire for living more than 30km from his new constituents from some of Adelaide’s poorest suburbs, including Davoren Park, Smithfield and Munno Para West.

“The office administrative budget for the Spence electorate in the October to December quarter reflects the timing of direct mail to inform residents of shopping centre listening posts and street corner meetings,” he said.

“Spending in this quarter is often higher in Spence in (this quarter) than in other quarters because we send the annual calendar to residents in December.

“Despite the higher spend in this quarter, the final spend will be well below the total yearly budget.”

Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, left, and Mt Barker District Council Mayor Ann Ferguson at a press conference where Labor promised a new hospital at Mt Barker. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Ms Sharkie, the independent MP covering the Adelaide Hills since 2016, said Covid-19 had inflated her costs.

“As the federal member for South Australia’s oldest electorate, my office has been inundated with requests for support as the Covid-19 situation rapidly evolved,” she said.

“To help as many constituents as efficiently as possible, I believe it is a prudent use of taxpayer money to use mail-outs, local newspapers and community radio stations to quickly disseminate Mayo-specific information about Covid-19 support and other community issues.

“I also used part of my staffing budget to bring on a dedicated Covid-19 officer to help respond to the number of inquiries we have been receiving.”

Yearly office budgets are $143,025 plus just over a dollar for each electorate voter. Officials also say rural and regional MPs generally face more expensive mailouts.

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority also publishes expenses on travel, car, office facilities, employees and telecommunications.