Anthony Albanese records highest total for expenses

The office, car and travel costs for Anthony Albanese exceeded $1m for a three-month period while opposition leader Peter Dutton was the second biggest spender in federal parliament, latest figures reveal.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cost taxpayers more than $1.3 million in travel, car and office expenses in three months – the highest quarterly bill since he took office.

Almost half a million dollars went on international travel – including hotels, taxis and meals – with the ASEAN-Australia Summit and the East Asia Summit, G20 and APEC the most expensive trip at more than $154,000.

Travel and expenses for the coronation of King Charles was the next most expensive trip, costing us just under $130,000, according to the latest Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority report for April to June last year.

The most expensive Comcar trip was one in Melbourne on June 30, amounting to $898.

MPs are also able to claim domestic travel flights, taxis and Comcar services for their spouses, nominees, dependent children or designated persons.

Mr Albanese family travel costs totalled $5622. The highest family travel bill was incurred by Labor Senator Jana Stewart at just over $18,000.

Other big-spending offices included that of Resources Minister Madeleine King, whose expenses bill came in at $536,000, with employee travel for 16 staff accounting for more than $282,000.

Cabinet ministers were not the only big spenders – the expenses bill for Greens leader Adam Bandt came in at more than $431,000.

Peter Dutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Domestic travel by Mr Bandt’s 26 employees accounted for more than half of his expenses, totalling more than $251,000.

The office running costs of Opposition leader Peter Dutton over the same period was just under $850,000, with staff travel totalling $558,000 and family travel costs coming in at $7,484.

Among Liberal MPs, Opposition Whip Melissa Price had the largest expenses bill – after Mr Dutton – which totalled just over $328,000, with office costs accounting for almost $130,000.

Of the independents, Kennedy MP Bob Katter had the highest expenses bill at just over $328,000.

Several pollies lodged accident excess claims and fine processing fees, although the report did not specify whether it was the MP, staffer or driver behind the wheel at the time of the prang or traffic offence.

MPs’ office costs are monitored by the IPEA, which is conducts regular audits of work and travel expenses claimed by parliamentarians. There is no suggestion of any breaches in the latest report.

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