IPEA likely to send debt collectors after Andrew Laming, as MP refuses to repay $10k for against the rules travel expenses

A retiring Queensland MP who has refused to pay back more than $10,000 in taxpayer-funded travel will likely have debt collectors sent in by the parliamentary expenses watchdog on his tail.

A retiring Queensland federal MP who has refused to pay back more than $10,000 for taxpayer-funded travel will likely have debt collectors for the parliamentary expenses watchdog on his tail.

An audit by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority found Member for Bowman Andrew Laming’s trip to Tasmania and elsewhere over a week in 2019 shouldn’t have been on the taxpayer’s dime, ordering him to pay back $10,360.

But the MP has refuted IPEA’s findings, slamming it as a “contemptible witch-hunt with conclusions disconnected from the audit-established facts”.

Dr Laming is adamant he will not repay the money, but the IPEA has confirmed it “actively pursues” debts as a policy — and his retirement won’t make a difference.

Member for Bowman Andrew Laming

The IPEA audit looked into 30 expense items incurred by Dr Laming and his family during their trip between June 21 and June 27, 2019, finding 21 of those inconsistent with the rules.

Under the rules, federal politicians cannot claim expenses on trips if the dominant purpose is not work-related.

The IPEA concluded Dr Laming’s travel from Brisbane to Hobart, his children’s travel with him and his wife to Hobart, and then a short trip to Melbourne at the end — was not parliamentary business.

Dr Laming maintains his trip was for MP business, saying there was a “day/night of regional Tasmanian driving of incidental parliamentary benefit” because he was developing an active transport corridor for his electorate and also he attended a conference and met with education experts.

The IPEA, in its scathing report, dismissed the MP’s version of events as “implausible” and noted Dr Laming had at times “obfuscated, provided inconsistent answers or ignored” the watchdog’s questions through the audit process.

Dr Laming accused the IPEA of “fabricating a nasty narrative to obfuscate the reality” that what he had told them was true but didn’t line up with their preconceived theories.

The IPEA, in a statement, confirmed it had a 30 day payment period for all invoices and “actively pursues” what they are owed.

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority CEO Annwyn Godwin

The watchdog’s chief executive, Annwyn Godwin, during senate estimates in 2021 confirmed the agency did use debt collectors.

“With all of our debts, we do continue to pursue them. We use a range of different opportunities, and we continue to use the debt collection services as required,” she said.

The Parliamentary Business Resources Acts states debt owed by MPs remains after they leave.

Dr Laming is not contesting the upcoming election.