Scott Buchholz claimed family travel expense while his posts suggested he was elsewhere
A Queensland federal MP’s expenses claim for a family flight to Melbourne contradicted by his own social media posts showing attendance at local events.
A Queensland LNP federal MP flew a family member to Melbourne to join him on “electorate duties” – while social media posts suggested he was at local events 1600km away.
It comes as the federal expenses saga engulfs all sides of politics and calls grow for an urgent review.
According to his declared expenses Scott Buchholz, member for the electorate of Wright southwest of Brisbane, was away from home last October when he posted on Facebook about a local hall turning 100, a local cricket game, and a country fair.
Mr Buchholz, the Coalition’s spokesman for skills and training, did not respond to a request for comment.
The expenses of federal MPs has been thrown into focus over the last week, with Labor under pressure to review the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority’s guidelines.
Some MPs have flagged potential errors in reporting as a result.
Member for Herbert Phil Thompson was in Townsville with his family last September on a weekend IPEA reported they were in Cairns.
Mr Thompson’s office has raised the issue directly with IPEA.
Victorian Independent MP Helen Haines has called for a review of the IPEA guidelines.
“Australians have every right to scrutinise how politicians spend public funds, including on travel,” she said.
‘The IPEA was established to ensure transparency and accountability in parliamentarians’ spending.
“As it has been eight years since its inception, now is the time for a review of the guidelines and rules that govern spending by parliamentarians to ensure it continues to meet its intended purpose effectively.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not be drawn on Wednesday on whether the parliamentary expenses guidelines – particularly around family reunification allowances – should change.
“The rules are in place independently,” he said.
“I’ll tell you what’s not a good thing: is for politicians to rule and manage themselves.
“It’s important that there be arm’s length, that is what has been put in place.”
Federal Communications and Sport Minister and Queensland MP Anika Wells also defended herself after self-referring for an audit, after a litany of dubious expenses were revealed – including an expensive Parisian dinner, making a car wait seven hours while she attended the Australian Open at a cost of $1000, and flying her husband to attend four AFL grand finals.
Ms Wells maintained she had not breached the guidelines, and said she had nothing to hide.
“I absolutely accept that those figures prompt a gut reaction in people,” she said on Wednesday.
“I honestly accept that, and I agree with everybody that parliamentarians’ entitlements should be scrutinised.
“I’ve said that from the get go, I’ve always said that it’s something I deeply believe in, and that’s why I’ve put all of my travel through the independent regulator.”
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Originally published as Scott Buchholz claimed family travel expense while his posts suggested he was elsewhere
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