Victorian MPs travel to Bruce Springsteen concert on taxpayer

TWO Victorian ministers were Dancing in the Dark on the taxpayers’ expense after their drivers chauffeured them to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the country.

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TWO Victorian ministers were Dancing in the Dark on the taxpayers’ expense after their drivers chauffeured them to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the country.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula and Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan used ministerial cars to go to see “The Boss” at Hanging Rock, 75km northwest of Melbourne, on February 11.

Not wanting to endure a Long Walk Home after the concert, both ministers also used their government cars for the return trip.

Bruce Springsteen in concert last month. Picture: Ian Currie

Attorney-General Martin Pakula on his way to see his boss, Daniel Andrews. Picture: Mark Stewart

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan. Picture: Ellen Smith

Ms Allan, who is also major projects minister, said she attended the concert in her ministerial capacity as a guest of promoters Frontier Touring.

She said she “spoke to organisers about how we can continue to promote and support Victoria’s economy through major events like this.”

Mr Pakula said he was also there as a guest of Frontier Touring.

“I was invited to the event in my official capacity as Minister,” Mr Pakula said.

“Jacinta Allan and I talked to the organisers about how we can draw more events to regional Victoria in the future.”

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform in Melbourne last month. Picture: Supplied

Opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett said he doubted it passed the “pub test” as both ministers didn’t have a ministerial responsibility for major events.

“If ministers are using their ministerial entitlements for other than ministerial duties, that doesn’t pass the pub test,” Mr Hodgett said.

“Given the rorts that have gone on under Daniel Andrews’ MPs would it be any wonder ministers would not be using their entitlements in the proper way as attended?”

Macedon MP and Cabinet Secretary Mary-Anne Thomas also attended the Springsteen concert as a guest but caught the public bus from Woodend.

The news comes after the Andrews Government was rocked by the resignations of Speaker Telmo Languiller and Deputy Speaker Don Nardella after they billed taxpayers thousands of dollars for living outside of their western suburbs electorates.

Mr Languiller has committed to paying back the almost $40,000 he claimed in the “second residence” allowance, but Mr Nardella has refused to hand back the more than $100,000 he has claimed saying it was within parliamentary rules.

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