Opposition slams Premier’s $150k trip to Japan and South Korea

Taxpayers have been slugged more than $150K for Premier Peter Malinauskas, state government ministers and top public servants to fly business class on a five-night business trip to Asia.

The South Australian taxpayer was slugged more than $150,000 for Premier Peter Malinauskas, state government ministers and top public servants to fly business class to Asia and stay in ritzy hotels on a five-night business trip.

The Advertiser can reveal Mr Malinauskas’s trip to Japan and South Korea last October to spruik the state’s hydrogen and tourism credentials cost the taxpayer at least $157,654.

The Premier was joined by Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis, Trade Minister Nick Champion and four of their staffers on the trip.

Also accompanying the Premier was Department for Energy and Mining chief executive Paul Heithersay and the Office of Hydrogen Power SA boss Sam Crafter.

It’s understood two other public servants attended the trip. Their expenses have not been revealed, but it would send the total cost of the trip close to $200,000. Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell also travelled to Japan and Korea on a Commonwealth funded trade mission, but his expenses have not been included.

The revelations of the Premier’s travel bill come after it was revealed Treasurer Stephen Mullighan charged the taxpayer at least $75,000 for an eight-night trip to the US.

Mr Malinauskas and the eight other confirmed attendees spent a combined $129,037 on flights from Adelaide to Tokyo, Tokyo to Seoul and back home.

The group flew business class for the long haul flights, but were in economy seats for the shorter flight from Tokyo to Seoul.

They racked up a $28,617 bill on accommodation and meals, staying three nights at the five-star Conrad Hotel overlooking the historic Hama-rikyu Gardens and the Tokyo Bay, and two nights at the equally luxurious Four Seasons Hotel near the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

A state government spokesman said former premier Steven Marshall and his staff stayed at the same hotels on separate visits to Japan in January 2020 and South Korea in October 2019.

The October 2022 trip was Mr Malinauskas’s first overseas mission as Premier. The government spokesman said: “By the same point of the last term of government, the previous premier (Steven Marshall) had racked up three international trips”.

Mr Marshall’s first trade mission to Shanghai in May 2018 cost taxpayers more than $18,500 — excluding any costs incurred by public servants.

Opposition treasury spokesman Matt Cowdrey lashed Mr Malinauskas’s travel bill.

“It appears that Labor have made no effort whatsoever to keep costs down which is a slap in the face to South Australians doing it tough,” Mr Cowdrey said.

“With the average home loan now $1000 a month more expensive, the Premier needs to be clear with South Australians what benefits are coming from these increasingly frequent and expensive overseas trips.”

The state government spokesman said the Premier and ministers attended more than 30 events and meetings and met with more than 150 different officials “from some of the biggest companies in Japan and Korea” and key investors in hydrogen, renewable energy, resources, wine and tourism.

“We are already seeing a return as a result of this visit. For example, only this week, Marubeni announced details of a hydrogen and energy storage project for South Australia,” the spokesman said.

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Originally published as Opposition slams Premier’s $150k trip to Japan and South Korea