Travel expenses for Labor MPs recalled to Canberra for cost of living talks deemed ‘out of touch’

The half-million dollar cost of the PM bringing every Labor politician to Canberra to discuss cost of living relief for struggling Australians for one day has come under scrutiny.

PM Anthony Albanese’s move to bring every Labor politician to Canberra this week to discuss cost of living relief for struggling Australians at a cost of almost half a million dollars for a single day of talks — two weeks before Parliament’s return — has been slammed by Liberal senator Dave Sharma.

Mr Sharma called the caucus a costly “stunt” by the Prime Minister.

“This government has had 18 months to deal with these issues, and Albanese decides in the dying days of summer to pull all Labor MPs back to Canberra at significant expense,” Senator Sharma said on Sky News on Monday morning.

“I hope something substantial comes out of it rather than a headline and a media opportunity.

“They need to be taking serious decisions on the fiscal policy front to rein in inflation, they need to commit to Stage 3 tax cuts, he said.

His call came as the PM this week declared that the government was still committed to delivering the cut to income tax on high-earning Australians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled his Labor colleagues to Canberra for cost of living talks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Meanwhile, Social Services minister Amanda Rishworth defended the move to call back Labor members, saying the government could not “have parliament by Zoom”.

“This year will be a year of delivery, and so at the beginning of the year it’s not uncommon for political parties to get together,” she told ABC Radio National on Monday.

“I would suggest that the opposition, from time to time, has flown people to all one place. It is a bit two-faced to be criticising the Labor Party here.

“We don’t have a number of political meetings, committee meetings by Zoom. They are done in person. It is important that MPs do get together and actually put their views forward.”

COSTLY, ‘OUT OF TOUCH’

It followed Coalition criticism of Mr Albanese’s “out of touch” decision to recall his colleagues to the capital for the full caucus, and questions around why the Prime Minister did not develop more relief measures last year when his colleagues were already in Canberra.

The federal government has defended the move, citing the clear need to get more help out the door to Australian households as soon as possible.

Analysis by News Corp of average MP, Senator and employee travel expenses has found it would cost about $468,818 for all Labor politicians based outside the ACT to travel with staff and stay overnight in Canberra on Wednesday for the caucus meeting.

The figure was a conservative estimate — assuming each MP and Senator would claim a $310 travel allowance for one night, and bring on average one staff member, who would claim a $300 allowance.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley says the Canberra meeting suggests Labor is out of ideas to help Australians. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Flights alone for Labor’s 73 MPs and 25 Senators from outside the ACT, and not including the PM who lives at the Lodge in Canberra, would cost about $254,393 based on the cheapest return business flight with Qantas from the nearest capital city for each MP and Senator.

Flying one staff member per politician return on a flexible economy airfare would be about $132,384.

The estimate also includes the cost of each politician using a Comcar on average three times to get between the airport, parliament and their accommodation, but does not factor in connecting flights for regional MPs.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said Mr Albanese appeared to be “out of touch” and “out of ideas”.

“Now he wants Australian taxpayers to help fund a ‘think tank’ to fix a problem he’s helping to create,” she said.

Ms Ley said the caucus meeting was “new ground” from a national leader who was “clueless on how this type of extravagance might look to the average Australian”.

“This cost-of-living crisis has been rampant for well over twelve months,” she said.

“Perhaps if the Prime Minister hadn’t cancelled a number of sitting days last year, Labor might have come up with a few solutions by now.”

Health Minister Mark Butler says Labor is committed to delivering more relief for households. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Asked about the upcoming meeting, Health Minister Mark Butler said the full caucus would hear from Mr Albanese to discuss household cost relief plans for the new year.

“We did a lot of work last year, including $23 billion in targeted cost of living relief for households,” he said.

“But we also recognise, and the Prime Minister has said, there’s obviously more for us to do through 2024.’

Mr Butler said the meeting had been called before parliament starts in February in recognition many Australians are already “doing it tough”.

“I know that all my caucus colleagues are keen and raring to get going with delivering again for Australians this year.”
Mr Butler also highlighted the success of ongoing relief measures, such as Labor’s cheaper medicines policy which has saved people $240 million on scripts in the past 12 months alone.