Second FOI reveals first-term MP Olivia Savvas spent nearly $3000 on personalised teddy bears

First-term MP Olivia Savvas charged taxpayers nearly $3000 for teddy bears – double the amount that was first reported earlier this year.

First-term MP Olivia Savvas charged taxpayers nearly $3000 for bulk orders of teddy bears – double the amount that was discovered through an initial Freedom of Information request earlier this year.

Ms Savvas, the member for Newland, spent a total $2926 on the personalised plush toy graduation bears ahead of Year 6 school graduation ceremonies at the end of last year.

An initial FOI request by the opposition revealed an $1463 invoice for 100 bears, before a subsequent request uncovered a second $1463 charge for a further 100.

The opposition said the second application was submitted after they were tipped off to more spending by Ms Savvas’ Labor colleagues.

But the government dismissed that as a false claim to explain “FOI incompetence”.

Reimbursement for the first invoice was initially denied by the Department for Treasury and Finance because the bears were considered a gift and did not meet the rules of the parliamentary “Global Allowance”.

But initial FOI documents showed Treasurer Stephen Mullighan approved the spending after “a representation from the member to the Treasurer’s office”.

Member for Newland Olivia Savvas with the personalised Olivia Savvas Graduation Bears she gave to Year 6 graduates in 2022. Picture: Instagram

“The Treasurer has formed the view that the teddy bears are to be considered a trophy or medal presented to a school student and thus is permitted,” an Electorate Services manager wrote in an email.

The manager acknowledged “the precedent this course of action may create”.

Opposition government accountability spokeswoman Michelle Lensink said information “leaked from Labor” highlighted Olivia Savvas’ immaturity as an MP.

“This type of attitude from Olivia Savvas just highlights her immature thinking and makes you question whether she is mature enough to comprehend the magnitude of her responsibility as a Member of parliament,” she said.

“To hear suggestions from Labor that Olivia Savvas has openly bragged about spending almost $3000 of taxpayer money on teddy bears during a cost-of-living crisis is not just frustrating but incredibly disappointing.”

In response to questions put to Ms Savvas, a government spokeswoman dismissed claims of bragging or a leak.

“Do the Liberals really have nothing better to do than to complain about school kids receiving teddy bears?” she said.

“Much to the Liberals’ annoyance, Olivia Savvas is an energetic, hardworking MP, who is strongly engaged with her community.”

She said the Global Allowance is a budgeted allowance provided to all members of the House of Assembly, and the rules allow donations, such as trophies, medals and shields to be presented to school students.

“Where it is not immediately clear whether a purchase accords with guidance notes, the Treasurer is often called upon to provide advice, which he did in this instance,” she said.

“Similar guidance has been provided by the Treasurer to make clear that MPs may use their Global Allowance entitlements to purchase shopping bags and other promotional material.”

It is understood that Ms Savvas has not made any further claims for reimbursement of the cost of teddy bears.