James Campbell: Even if Anika Wells is a complete goose I still think the charges don’t add up to anything

If you’ve come here looking for a piece joining in the pile-on on Communications and Sports Minister Anika Wells, I’m sorry but you’re in the wrong place.

One of the many boasts of the Prime Minister, according to those who speak with him regularly, is that three-and-half years after he took office and well into his second term, he has yet to lose a minister to scandal.

A quick check of the records shows how unusual this is, as with the exception of Julia Gillard, every government going back to Whitlam has had at least one minister exit under a cloud.

Sometimes, like Arthur Sinodinos, who stood aside in Tony time, and Hawkie’s fixer Mick Young, the exile was only temporary and they returned after being exonerated.

Anthony Albanese is yet to lose a minister to scandal. Picture: Martin Ollman

But though he shifted Clare O’Neil and Andrew Giles, Albo’s is not only the only government where no one has been dumped because of poor performance or any real or alleged impropriety, it’s the only government in half a century to have lasted this long without any sort of resignation at all, aside from retirement.

So even though she never had to get rid of anyone for wrongdoing, Gillard still had six ministers quit on her, while Abbott dumped David Johnston from Defence.

Now, with Anika Wells, the opposition will be hoping this is about to change. But if you’ve come here looking for a piece joining in the pile-on the Communications and Sports Minister, I’m sorry, but you’re in the wrong place.

As far as I can see she hasn’t done anything wrong. And in case you’re wondering, no, it’s not because she’s a mate. Aside from being introduced to her at a function and saying hello in the corridors of Parliament House, I’ve never had a conversation with her.

As far as I can see Anika Wells hasn’t done anything wrong. Picture: Martin Ollman

Nor is it because I think she’s been doing a great job as a minister.

Most Labor people I speak to had longstanding bets she would be the first minister to really screw up, which is why they were perplexed she was trusted with aged care, a high-risk job where you’re only ever one kerosene bath away from disaster.

But even if she is a complete goose, I still think the charges don’t add up to anything. Let’s run through the rap, as laid out by opposition finance spokesman James Paterson, who accused her on Sunday of failing “the kitchen table test”.

Wells, he said, “thinks it’s perfectly appropriate to spend $100,000 on return flights from New York City, who thinks it’s OK to spend $1000 on a fancy meal in Paris, who thinks there’s nothing wrong with spending more than $3000 to travel to Adelaide to attend a birthday party of a friend, and who thinks it’s OK to spend almost $3000 on a ski holiday for her family at Thredbo”.

On the first charge, yes, the total was actually $94,000, but that was for three people; Wells’ seat was $34,000. Expensive, yes. But that’s what business-class seats cost to New York during General Assembly week if you’re buying them at short notice.

What was she supposed to do?

Does the opposition think ministers of the Crown should be flying economy? That’s a great message to send the world.

As for the trip to Adelaide, Wells wasn’t there for the friend’s birthday, she attended it while she was there for work.

Just as Julie Bishop was there for work when she just happened to be in Adelaide to celebrate her 58th and 60th birthdays with family.

Or the 17 occasions over five years when work took Bishop to cities where the Eagles – of which she was a director – just happened to be playing.

As for the grand on a meal in Paris? Seems a lot, but again, it wasn’t just for Wells but four people. Even so, I admit $250 isn’t nothing.

But this was Paris. During the Olympics. And to put that in some sort of perspective, in 2014 the aforementioned David Johnston managed to spend $2062 on five guests in a restaurant. In Perth. Not during the Olympics.

What about the ski trip?

According to the news report about this one, the total cost of the trip was actually more like $2845, of which $1389.18 was to fly her husband and two of her three children.

Which doesn’t strike as that outrageous an amount of money.

Especially as there’s really no suggestion Wells’ reasons for visiting Thredbo were spurious, unless you think Paralympics Australia went there for two days just so the minister’s family could have a weekend at the snow.

The families of politicians put up with a lot – long absences in Canberra and many nights out even when they’re sleeping at home.

Family reunion travel allowances exist for the explicit purpose of allowing them to accompany the MP when they travel for work.

Are we now saying the only place they use it is Canberra?

Sorry fellas, you’re going to need more than this.

Originally published as James Campbell: Even if Anika Wells is a complete goose I still think the charges don’t add up to anything