Ministerial expenses spike as Covid-19 winds down new figures reveal

Ministerial transport costs have increased fivefold as Queensland’s jetsetting front bench venture overseas and across the state. FULL EXPENSES

Ministerial transport costs have increased fivefold as Queensland’s jetsetting front bench ventures overseas and across the state, as staff wages of the cabinet also ballooned by millions of dollars.

The latest ministerial expenditure report revealed taxpayers forked out $32.1m on salaries and “related payments” for ministerial offices in 2022-23 — up 12.3 per cent from the $28.6m spent the year before.

Total costs across all ministerial offices during the year reached $53.8m, which was about $6.6m more than what was spent in 2021-22.

Overseas travel costs marked the largest increase, quintupling to a whopping $590,596 in 2022-23, compared to less than $100,000 in 2021-22 when Covid-19 border closures remained active.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020-21 total overseas spending costs were $133.

In 2022-23 taxpayers also forked out $643,892 for motor vehicle running costs, and $2.16m in domestic travel.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office expenses reached $9.74m, driven largely by $6.7m in staff salaries.

The costs of running Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ office hit $3.93m, while Treasurer Cameron Dick’s office racked up $3.25m in expenses.

Mr Dick had by far the largest overseas travel bill — through travel to India, Chile and Korea and other nations — at $238,632.

The Attorney-General, Health, Energy, Police and Corrective Services and Transport portfolios had office expenses between $2m and $3m.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s office cost $3.93m to run in 2022-23, up 2 per cent from the previous year and driven largely by an increase in domestic travel.

MINISTERIAL OFFICE EXPENSES

JULY 1, 2022 TO JUNE 30, 2023

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – $9,742,368

Deputy Premier Steven Miles – $3,934,711

Treasurer Cameron Dick – $3,254,830

Attorney-General turned Health Minister Shannon Fentiman – $2,296,687 then $280,465

Education Minister Grace Grace – $2,782,452

Transport Minister Mark Bailey – $2,450,169 + $252,245 (after reshuffle added digital services to responsibilities)

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni – $2,667,480

Police Minister Mark Ryan – $2,466,282

Health Minister turned Attorney General Yvette D’Ath – $2,766,092 + $209,913

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe – $2,439,829

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner – $1,791,965

Seniors, Disability Services, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister turned Child Safety Minister Craig Crawford – $1,855,428 + $178,210

Resources Minister Scott Stewart – $2,134,366

Employment and Small Business Minister turned Youth Justice Di Farmer – $1,833,467 + $212,828

Environment Minister turned Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon – $1,780,524 + $186,869

Housing Minister turned Treaty and Indigenous Affairs Minister Leeanne Enoch – $2,050,683 +$190,150

Regional Development and Water Minister Glenn Butcher – $2,098,426

Children, Youth Justice, and Multicultural Affairs Minister turned Environment Minister Leanne Linard – $1,615,400 + $161,058.