Tony Abbott accuses Liberal MPs of ‘insider hatchet job’ after $120,000 travel bill exposed

TONY Abbott has accused his Liberal colleagues of an “insider hatchet job” after it was revealed his extensive travel had cost taxpayers more than $120,000 last year.

TONY Abbott has accused his Liberal colleagues of an “insider hatchet job” after it was revealed his extensive travel had cost taxpayers more than $120,000 last year.

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The former prime minister defended his travel and questioned why he was “singled out for attention with the implication that I was somehow ripping off the taxpayer”.

Tony Abbott at Mackay Airport. Picture: Mark Calleja

The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday Mr Abbott spent almost $74,000 on domestic flights last year, nearly double the average of all MPs, as he spent more than nine weeks jetsetting outside his Sydney electorate.

In a letter to the Herald Sun, Mr Abbott said it was “hardly surprising” he would spend more than his colleagues given he is a “a busy former prime minister”.

He accused other Liberal MPs of launching an anonymous hit on him and said: “Is it any wonder the government has trouble getting its message across when its members play these sorts of nasty games?”

Mr Abbott also claimed travel allowances worth $24,311 for 65 nights away from his electorate for trips listed as “former prime minister — official business”.

The figures came from a Herald Sun analysis of publicly available records of how MPs use taxpayers’ money.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed travel allowances worth $24,311 for 65 nights away from his electorate for trips listed as ‘former prime minister — official business’.

Mr Abbott, who has vowed to be the “best possible member for Warringah”, wrote in his letter that “senior politicians can’t do their job if they are a prisoner of their office or even of their own neighbourhood”.

“When I opted to stay in public life, naturally, I wanted to continue to make a contribution on important national and international issues and to maintain my interest in remote and regional Australia,” he said.

Records show 13 of the 65 nights he claimed the travel allowance last year were spent outside of major cities.

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