Greens leader Adam Bandt slugged taxpayers nearly $1m on top of his $314,000 salary and staff wages

Greens leader Adam Bandt has been pushed to explain himself after he forked out $200,000 on printing and communication and $23,000 on private jets.

Climate-warrior and Greens leader Adam Bandt has been slugging taxpayers just short of a million dollars in expenses in a single year, including spending $204,000 on printing costs.

Also on his eyebrow-raising expenses were $23,000 on two private jet flights and another $12,000 on a government-provided vehicle and petrol allowance.

His annual expense bill for 2022 was an eye-watering $963,166, not including his $314,000 salary and the wages of his personal staff, according to the Department of Finance.

Mr Bandt, whose party runs on a platform of climate change prevention, forked out $23,000 on two private jets during the 2022 election campaign.

On March 7, Mr Bandt booked a chartered flight from Townsville to Rockhampton during a tour of regional Queensland where he announced details of his plan to aggressively transition away from coal, costing taxpayers another $8,300.

Adam Bandt and Claudia Perkins arriving at the Midwinter Ball at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Greens leader refused to explain why he chartered a $15,000 private plane between Canberra and Brisbane to attend his party’s election campaign launch despite the taxpayer being forced to pick up the tab.

Mr Bandt’s travel costs also included almost $29,000 on government COMCAR trips and taxis and $57,000 for domestic flights along with $372,000 in staff travel expenses for his 21-staff strong entourage.

Despite the hefty bill, Mr Bandt ranked below several Labor ministers including Tony Burke and Tanya Plibersek, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Prime Minister for 2022 expenses.

Independent MP Dai Le, who is among the most frugal spenders in parliament, called on Mr Bandt’s hypocrisy in using flash private jets for common commercial routes.

“I’m shocked by the news of parliamentarians overspending and surprised by the Greens use of chartered flights when they are the party that opposed the use of fossil fuels,” she said.

Adam Bandt getting into his car outside his home. Picture: Sarah Matray

“At the end of the day, how we spend and what we spend on, will be judged by the people when it’s time to cast their vote.”

“As the leader of the third-largest political party in Australia you would expect Mr Bandt would engage in extensive travel and unlike the Prime Minister and many ministers he doesn’t have access to government VIP flights,” a spokesman said.

“All Mr Bandt’s expenditures are within entitlements.”

It’s understood Mr Bandt is renting a private-plated hybrid electric vehicle, and has been doing so since one became available.

La Trobe University strategic communication expert Dr Natalie McKenna said the extravagant printing and travel bill would not go down well with voters.

“Spending $15,000 of taxpayer money on a chartered flight is unacceptable. Bandt will most likely defend this and say there were no other flight options however, proper planning could have mitigated this,” she said.

“Spending $200,00 on printing would not be viewed favourably by constituents.

“The Greens party is known for promoting sustainability and caring for the environment, (but) such a huge printing bill does not seem to align with the party’s perceived core values.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]