Katy Gallagher backs Tony Burke over $57,000 US spending spree
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has sprung to the defence of colleague Tony Burke after revelations in The Daily Telegraph he slugged taxpayers $57,000 for a four-day trip to the US.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has defended her colleague Tony Burke - claiming MPs often incur travel costs “without their knowledge.”
It follows revelations in the Daily Telegraph Mr Burke slugged taxpayers $57,000 for a four-day trip to Washington in July 2022.
That included almost $8,000 on hire cars and $1,000 for Mr Burke and his staffer to receive emergency passports.
“Ministers need to travel for work. There’s expectations about that. The information is then published. Ministers make a very strong effort to make sure their costs are minimised where they travel” Ms Gallagher said on Sunrise.
“These are often costs that are incurred without their knowledge - if it’s cars that are organised as part of their trip. I just came back from the G20 and I can imagine there were a lot of costs associated with that trip.”
The minister was grilled by host Natalie Barr who asked why it was appropriate for Mr Burke’s staffer to charge taxpayers for 10 items of laundry.
“I acknowledge that people are really feeling the pinch. I accept the Government has to tighten its belt just like every other household and business is” Ms Gallagher said.
“And when we pay - when there is Government expenditure on travel - it has to be appropriate for what was needed. Absolutely. We have found savings in travel, in advertising, in consultancy spending.”
PAYBACK TIME: BISHOP UNLEASHES ON BURKE
Former politician Bronwyn Bishop has blasted the man who led the campaign to have her ousted over a $5000 helicopter ride, saying it’s now his turn to pay back the $57,000 he spent on a four-day US trip.
Even Labor sources yesterday ripped into Mr Burke, saying his track record on spending — coupled with the latest findings — was a “bad look” for a government focused on the cost of living.
Ms Bishop told The Daily Telegraph that Employment Relations Minister Tony Burke should consider repaying the $57,000 he blew on the four-day US spending spree, despite it being within parliamentary rules.
In 2015, Ms Bishop spent $5200 on a 80km chartered helicopter ride to attend a Liberal fundraiser — leading to a campaign led by Mr Burke to have her resign from her role as speaker of the house.
Mr Burke was the chief agitator in the saga, claiming Ms Bishop did not “accidentally” sit in a helicopter and accusing her of bringing parliament into disrepute.
Ms Bishop has always insisted her trip was within the rules, but she paid the full amount back after the scrutiny, and described it as an error in judgement.
The Australian Federal Police ruled out any criminal charges against her in relation to the expenses.
“There is one rule for socialists, and one rule for the rest of us. That’s the way it is,” she said.
“My expenses were within the entitlement rules, the precedent was set by Mr (Wayne) Swan on a trip to Bathurst (but) I repaid the money, I paid for it.
“Maybe the Member for Watson might like to do the same. You’ve still got the $3m of expenses from the Deputy Prime Minister that he refuses to disclose.”
Greens senator David Shoebridge unmasked Mr Marles’ $3m bill for RAAF Special Purpose Flights, but the Deputy Prime Minister has refused to provide a breakdown of the spend because of security reasons.
It comes as Labor sources told The Daily Telegraph Mr Burke was unlikely to find too many defenders among his colleagues, given his lengthy record of large expenses.
“When you’re out with double the expense as noted traveller Richard Marles, you’re liable for an examination,” one Labor source said.
“It’s a bad look.”
Another Labor source said the latest findings along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s travel and socialising with celebrities was starting to “look bad”.
“All this stuff is bad. All of the little bits come together, the Airbus Albo, the tennis, the concerts, the Kyle Sandilands (wedding),” the source said.
“It’s definitely a bad look, we are one lei away from our own Hawaiian moment.”
Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley said that while it was understandable that the Prime Minister would undertake international travel — she questioned the need for ministers and assistant ministers to be taking such lavish trips.
“I’m seeing also ministers, assistant ministers and trade delegations that really will never see the light of day in terms of public policy here in this country, travelling the world,” she said.
“If this Albanese Government actually understood the people in the communities that are doing it tough, they might just curb some of their own spending.”
Mr Burke’s colleague, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, said the disclosures of each minister was a matter for them, but taxpayers could expect good value from the Labor government.
“I’m sure every minister does what they can to get value for money when it comes to these international engagements, I’m sure that’s the approach Tony has taken,” he said.
“(Taxpayers) get value for money from the government.”
Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Katy Gallagher backs Tony Burke over $57,000 US spending spree
Cop jailed for stealing $200K cash to fuel gambling addiction
A former Sydney cop has been jailed for stealing more than $200,000 cash to help maintain her gambling addiction.
Strikeforce cops raid home of nurse in ‘kill Israelis’ video
The male nurse at the centre of a hate speech video filmed inside Bankstown Hospital has had his home raided by NSW Police after he was hospitalised on Friday.