Requirement that ministers report travel expenses within 45 days under new law proposed by One Nation

Ministers would be forced to reveal the cost of their travel and luxury accommodation faster under a proposed new law.

Premier Peter Malinauskas with Chinese delegates at the Sky City Ballroom on Tuesday night ahead of his trip to China this week. Picture: Ben Clark

Ministerial travel expenses that have in the past included thousands of dollars spent on ritzy hotels and business class travel would need to be reported within 45 days of a trip under new legislation to be voted on by parliament.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game has put forward the bill, which would halve the current disclosure rules requiring ministers to report their expenses within 90 days of their travel.

Ms Game said information on such expenses should be quickly and readily available to the public.

“This amendment is the bare minimum the public is entitled to know regarding the interstate and overseas travel expenses of government ministers and the staff who accompany them, including ministerial staff and public sector employees,” she said.

“During a time of rising inflation, rising interest rates, and rental and housing crises, South Australians deserve to know that politicians are accountable for spending their taxpayer dollars.”

The bill would require ministers to report on their reason for travel, provide a summary of their trip and disclose the cost of travel, transport, accommodation, food, beverages, and activities.

It is expected to pass through the Upper House with the support of the opposition and crossbench.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game has proposed a crackdown on reporting ministerial travel expenses. Picture: Supplied

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government would also support its passage through the Upper House, but was yet to decide how it will vote on the bill in the Lower House.

“My personal view, and I guess that reflects the government’s view, is that when it comes to the transparency around expenses associated with trips and other measures, I’m all for it being on the public record,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday.

“That’s what we do – we proactively disclose it all anyway.

“It’s just a practical question of whether or not those timelines can be realised in a way that doesn’t sort of cause more problems.

“I don’t want to put in place a trip-wire that just amounts to a source of consternation when, in actual fact, we’re all on the same page about wanting these things on the public record.”

Mr Malinauskas will this week travel to China with a delegation of about 40 people. Taxpayers will cover the expenses of the government delegation, which will include Mr Malinauskas, two staff from his office, two staff from the Department of Premier and Cabinet and an official from the Department for Trade and Investment.

Ministers have in the past come under fire for racking up hefty travel bills, which have included the cost of business-class flights and luxury hotels.