Panahi: Labor minister Anika Wells taxpayer-funded spending spree may be within ‘guidelines’ but it’s not kosher

From posh meals in Paris to a family ski trip in Thredbo and spending more than $30,000 per person for flights to New York, the extent of Anika Wells’ spending spree on taxpayers’ dime is gobsmacking.

Don’t stand between a Labor politician and a taxpayer-funded junket.

The depth and breadth of Anika Wells’ outrageous spending spree on our dime is frankly astonishing — from lavish meals in Paris to a family ski trip in Thredbo to spending well over $30,000 per person for flights to New York.

She also flew her husband, and sometimes children, on “family reunion” provisions to a string of sporting events; multiple AFL Grand Finals, the Boxing Day Test and the Formula 1 Grand Prix plus concerts. Then there was the happy coincidence that saw her friend’s 40th birthday celebrations coincide with meetings she’d booked in Adelaide.

Anika Wells poses for a photograph in the snow. Picture: Instagram

Just one of these lapses in judgement should see her under scrutiny and fighting to keep her position on the frontbench, but when compiled together, it shows a pattern of behaviour unbecoming of a minister.

One can barely fathom the sense of entitlement a politician must possess to keep Comcar limousines waiting for up to 10 hours while attending sporting events.

Taxpayers were billed almost $1000 for a car to wait while Wells attended the Australian Open and more for her to attend the 2022 NRL and NRLW grand finals.

Ms Wells at an AFL Grand Final. Picture: Instagram

When you’re wasting public money in such a haphazard fashion then it probably doesn’t seem odd to bill the taxpayer almost $100,000 for just three business class return fares to New York. Just a few minutes on Google would’ve garnered a more competitive rate, but why bother when someone else is picking up the bill.

Wells didn’t personally book the trip but she would have been aware of the exorbitant cost, and it’s clear the culture of waste is endemic in Labor. It’s in their DNA.

It’s why Victoria is in deep financial peril. That disregard for our money has seen major project cost blowouts, including on the North East Link which went from $10bn to $26bn.

The Prime Minister’s failure to address the Wells issue — together with Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ petulant response, storming out of a press conference rather than answering pertinent questions — shows this Labor government does not cope well under pressure.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has failed to address the issue. Picture: NewsWire

Wells’ career as a high-flying minister in Anthony Albanese’s government should be over, due to her penchant for billing the taxpayer for what should be coming out of her pocket.

It may be within “the guidelines”, but it’s certainly not kosher.