Travel bill for Labor cabinet tops $2m in nearly three years, drawing criticism from the opposition

Taxpayers have forked out a staggering figure on domestic and overseas travel for Premier Peter Malinauskas and his cabinet since Labor took office nearly three years ago.

Taxpayers have forked out more than $2m on domestic and overseas travel for Premier Peter Malinauskas and his cabinet since Labor took office nearly three years ago, according to opposition analysis.

The opposition says the spending is excessive and out-of-touch, but the government has argued the trips are justified and the Liberals’ criticism only highlights division within their own party.

Breaking down the figure, the travel bill was highest for Mr Malinauskas, whose 53 domestic and five international trips have cost a total of $496,610.

The second-highest was for Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis, whose bill reached $268,246, and the third-highest was Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven who spent $199,342 – including $132,643 on 102 domestic trips.

Premier Peter Malinauskas at Adelaide Airport, departing on a visit to Singapore, China and Hong Kong in September last year. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Also in the top five were Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs and Attorney-General Kyam Maher.

Opposition government accountability spokesman Ben Hood called on Mr Malinauskas to “rein in his ministers”.

“While South Australian families face crippling utility bills, rising rents and mortgage costs, Peter Malinauskas and his ministers are busy globetrotting at taxpayer expense,” he said.

“It’s nothing short of a slap in the face to every hardworking South Australian.”

Mr Hood said the Cabinet had now spent more than $1m on overseas travel alone, including a recent “flight of fancy” to the Cannes Film Festival by Arts Minister Andrea Michaels.

He also raised issue with a $44,000 trip Mr Koutsantonis took to attend a conference in Berlin, which Mr Hood said “raises serious questions about value for money”.

But Mr Koutsantonis said Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia requested to join the delegation to Berlin, insisting it was too important to criticise.

“Now Mr Hood has sought to embarrass his leader by criticising the same delegation he had sought to join – highlighting yet again the deep divisions in the SA Liberal Party,” he said.

“Mr Hood represents a Liberal Party which lost ministers and MPs to travel rorts during their time in government, all while racking up tens of thousands of dollars on chauffeured vehicles and lavish hotels around the world.

“Now the Liberals seek to punish regional communities by criticising visits to those regions by the Primary Industries Minister, and trade missions to re-establish trade pathways for South Australian produce in the wake of China easing tariffs.”

He said Mr Malinauskas has spent less time overseas in his first 33 months in office than former premier Steven Marshall did in his first 22 months.