Federal Cabinet duo charge taxpayers more than $6k to go to AFL Grand Final

TWO West Coast-supporting federal Cabinet ministers charged taxpayers more than $6000 to barrack for the Eagles at the MCG on AFL Grand Final day last year.

TWO West Coast-supporting federal Cabinet ministers charged taxpayers more than $6000 to barrack for the Eagles at the MCG on AFL Grand Final day last year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann enjoyed corporate hospitality at the MCG but charged some of their travel and accommodation to the public purse.

Senator Cormann’s register of interest shows he was given two tickets by National Australia Bank, which included pre-and-post game hospitality.

Taxpayers also picked up the bill for his wife, Perth lawyer Hayley Ross, to fly from the west to Melbourne in business class at a return cost of $3594 courtesy of the family reunion allowance.

Julie Bishop at the Grand Final Breakfast. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Senator Cormann spent four nights in Melbourne, but claimed a $438 travel allowance for only the night before the Grand Final and then again two nights later.

He flew business class from Canberra and then back to Sydney at a cost of $1373.

Ms Bishop — who quit as an Eagles board member in 2013 — spent six nights in Melbourne that week, claiming $438 travel allowance each night and taking a chauffeur-driven car on Grand Final day at a cost of $547.

A spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said she attended the game in her “official capacity”.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade partners with the AFL through the foreign aid program in undertaking development projects in the Asia-Pacific,” she said.

“The minister had an extensive official program in Victoria that week.”

Ms Bishop spoke at the 2014 North Melbourne Grand Final breakfast.

She claimed $1305 travel allowance that year and a $1448 flight from Perth, and another $491 flight on to Canberra.

As Liberal deputy leader she attended both St Kilda-Collingwood Grand Finals in 2010, costing $5455 for flights, accommodation and car travel, and $1240 to attend the 2011 Grand Final.

A spokeswoman for Senator Cormann said last night his use of a chauffeur-driven “ComCar” was for TV interviews and he had in fact walked to the game. She said Senator Cormann’s wife flew to Melbourne under the family reunion travel as he was travelling to Lima and Peru for meetings the following week, meaning he was away from home and his family for three successive weeks.

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