Politician travel expenses list reveals thousands of dollars racked up on domestic flights

A LIST of politicians’ travel expenses reveals former Speaker Peter Slipper racked up bills for thousands of dollars on domestic flights last year. But he’s not the only one.

A list of politicians’ travel expenses reveal former speaker Peter Slipper racked up bills for thousands of dollars on domestic flights last year.

FORMER Speaker Peter Slipper is still on the taxpayer-funded gravy train, with a list of politicians’ travel expenses revealing he racked up bills for thousands of dollars on domestic flights last year.

Mr Slipper — who lost his seat in 2013 — billed the taxpayer $5894.53 for nine domestic flights between Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra from July to December.

A Canberra magistrate last year overturned previous convictions against Mr Slipper for acting dishonestly when he claimed taxi fares after three winery visits in 2010.

Former Speaker Peter Slipper.

Mr Slipper was among a host of politicians and ex-politicians whose travel expenses were publicly revealed late yesterday.

Senators and members who qualified for a Life Gold Pass before 2012 are entitled to a maximum 10 domestic return trips a year providing they are not for commercial purposes.

A move to wind back the Gold Pass, which gave MPs free business-class travel for life, was announced in the 2014 Budget but has not yet been legislated.

The boozy eight-day international trip that led to Jamie Briggs’s downfall as a federal minister cost taxpayers more than $40,000.

Mr Briggs — who quit his frontbench position in December over a late-night bar scandal in Hong Kong and eventually lost his seat — spent more than $6000 on accommodation, meals and entertainment during the three- nation trip.

Jamie Briggs. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

Another eight-day trip to the US and Canada in July last year for Mr Briggs to take part in the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum ministerial visit cost $44,640.22.

The half-yearly documents of parliamentarians’ entitlements, which cover July to ­December last year, also revealed politicians have struggled to rein in spending despite last year’s scandal surrounding use of taxpayer funds.

Globetrotting Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop billed the taxpayer $285,178 on international travel during the six-month period, while former treasurer Joe Hockey spent $38,559 for a five-day trip to Turkey to attend the G20 ­Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.

Former PM Julia Gillard charged the public purse for $10,867 of domestic flights, John Howard’s office costs were $112,473 while Kevin Rudd racked up $10,867 on chauffeur driven limousines.

Attorney-General George Brandis bought $1170 of books on the taxpayer — including Battleground: Why the Liberal Party Shirtfronted Tony Abbott and colleague Christopher Pyne’s memoir, A Letter to My Children.

Senator Brandis racked up overseas travel of more than $70,000 for the six months, ­including $31,195 to India and $36,000 for a nine-day trip to UK, Israel and Jordan.

WHAT OUR POLLIES BILLED TAXPAYERS

■ Former Speaker Peter Slipper $5,894.53 in 9 domestic flights between Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra

■ Former PM Julia Gillard $10,867 on domestic flights

Former PM Julia Gillard. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

■ Retired Labor Senator Michael Forshaw spent $9,331.50 on domestic flights

■ Former minister Jamie Briggs $40,902 on the 8 day trip to Hong Kong, UK and Germany

■ Former PM Kevin Rudd $10,867 on chauffeur driven limousines

■ Former Treasurer Joe Hockey, $38,559 for a five-day trip to Turkey to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting

■ Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, $4260 on domestic flights for his family

■ Geelong-based MP Sarah Henderson, $145.42 for four copies of The Magic Pudding

Liberal federal Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson. Picture: Mitch Bear

■ Attorney-General George Brandis spent $1169 on books including $26.99 to buy his colleague Christopher Pyne’s book

■ Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, $285,178 on international travel in six months

■ Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters, $7,861 for a trip to Myanmar to observe the election

■ Crossbench MP Bob Katter, $8.41 for a map of Wolstencroft Creek

■ Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young $500 and Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie $454.55 on accident excess

■ Former PM John Howard $112,473 on office facilities

■ Widows of former PMs, Tamie Fraser and Lady Nancy Gorton on flights and phone bills $4,445.90

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