Regional MP bought a unit, then charged taxpayers to stay there

Regional MP Rowan Ramsey has claimed $21,704 for accommodation when he stayed in Adelaide on his way home – and he owns the unit.

Regional MP Rowan Ramsey has slugged taxpayers thousands of dollars for staying in his own eastern suburbs home after work in Canberra, even attending an AFL match at Adelaide Oval one night.

The Liberal MP for Grey has defended the $21,704 bill, arguing he had no choice but to charge taxpayers and that it “obviously costs money” to run the Maylands unit he bought 20 years ago for just $215,000.

The sum is for 186 nights Mr Ramsey stayed at the address between June 2008 and December 2021.

One night in September 2017, Mr Ramsey claimed a $122 accommodation allowance while attending the Adelaide Crows v GWS qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, citing “sittings of parliament”. He explained the expenses over 13 years were made when returning to Adelaide after sitting weeks in Canberra.

Grey MP Rowan Ramsey defended charging taxpayers $21,704 to stay in his Maylands home.

He said each time it was too late to travel to his home base in Kimba, in his sprawling regional electorate.

“I can tell you what, it’s too bloody late to drive 500km when you’re too buggered,” Mr Ramsey said, adding it was also too late for a connecting flight.

He said the Maylands unit was not his primary home, and it “obviously costs money to run it”.

“All my travel expenses are submitted according to the rules set down for all parliamentarians,” he said.

“If there’s an error, I will be very, very surprised.”

Mr Ramsey and his wife bought the Maylands unit in 2002 while their children studied at university.

Taxpayers have now paid the MP more than 10 per cent of the home’s initial cost.

Mr Ramsey defended his decision to charge taxpayers while attending an AFL match, saying he only arrived at the game “halfway through the second quarter”.

He argued the only other options would be staying in Canberra an extra night after sitting weeks, or staying in a hotel in Adelaide.

“The alternative would be to incur a cost of more than $60,000 for the taxpayer staying in commercial accommodation whilst awaiting connections to my home,” he said.

Between June 2008 and December 2021, Mr Ramsey has been claiming the non-commercial travel allowance rate, climbing from $92 to $124 per night over the years.

Grey MP Rowan Ramsey’s Maylands unit. Picture: Matt Loxton

According to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, the rate applies to MPs staying in “private, non-commercial accommodation, such as the home of a family member or friend”.

The rules are governed by a “principles-based framework”, where MPs must ensure expenses are for the “dominant purpose” of parliamentary business. The IPEA does not comment publicly on individual MPs.

Another regional federal MP from SA has not claimed any travel allowances while staying in their Adelaide home, while another does not own a property in Adelaide.

Mr Ramsey also owns properties at Port Neill, Pinkawillinie and Jamestown.

In a blow to his campaign, his predecessor Barry Wakelin on Monday urged voters to back Mr Ramsey’s opponent, independent Liz Habermann.

In June 2020, several regional state MPs were embroiled in a travel allowance scandal.