No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defends $76k flight bill

Liberal Senator and passionate No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has defended splashing $76k in taxpayers’ cash on one expense over the past year.

Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has defended billing taxpayers $76,509.19 for 76 business class flights between her election in May, 2022 and July 2023.

Senator Price ran up the costs for business class domestic air travel while railing against “elites” dominating the Yes campaign for constitutional reform.

Sources close to Senator Price have insisted that the cost – which does not include any economy flights she may have taken – reflects the high cost of air travel to Alice Springs, where she is based.

The passionate No campaigner said her hefty flights costs are justified. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Morgan Sette

“As a Senator for the Northern Territory and Shadow for Indigenous Australia who also lives in Alice Springs, the Senator is required to travel extensively. The Senator’s travel is in accordance with IPEA requirements,’’ a spokesman said.

“It is worth noting that the Senator’s total travel expenditure is well and truly eclipsed by just the costs associated with the Minister for Indigenous Australians and Sydney MP Linda Burney’s use of RAAF Special Purpose Aircraft during the same period.”

Senator Burney can book the VIP aircraft as a cabinet minister if it meets the guidelines and is approved by Defence Minister Richard Marles. She has booked $180,000 in ministerial travel on VIP flights in the last year.

A spokesperson for Ms Price argued her flight bill is far less than Minister Linda Burney. Picture: NCA Newswire/Philip Gostelow

In the same period, Mr Marles booked $3.6 million in flights in his role as defence minister but has declined to release the passenger manifests revealing who else travelled citing “security advice”.

The details of Ms Price’s travel was released following a freedom of information request to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.

According to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority’s website, MPs such as Senator Price can book a flight up to the value of business class but the flight must represent “value for money.”

“Travel may be undertaken up to the cost of business class for the most reasonable and usual route between the departure and destination points,’’ the guidelines state.

“All travel must represent value for money to the Commonwealth.”

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Richard Marles booked $3.6 million in flights in the same period. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The travel expenditure largely relate to her time as a backbencher. She was appointed as the shadow minister for Indigenous Australians in April, 2023.

She also spent 67 nights staying in hotels in the same period at a total cost of $19,062, according to data released under freedom of information laws.

It’s the latest example of MPs’ travel expenses that have been kept under wraps as a result of the Albanese Government’s failure to publish MPs travel expenditure.

Ms Price’s travel has still not been published as required by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.

It was only released as a result of a freedom of information request.

Ms Price is the latest in a string of politicians to be scrutinised over their flight costs. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE/ Morgan Sette

The Albanese Government has suspended the publication of MPs’ travel or a year and blamed a computer IT issue with the parliamentarians expenses system for the failure to publish any information on any MPs travel for over a year.

Separately, the Defence Department has stopped publishing passenger manifest lists for RAAF VIP flights.

Ms Price’s predecessor, Senator Sam McMahon, was also frequently parliament’s biggest spender on travel and accommodation.

While her last bill was $18,000 in airline bills, Ms Price’s office noted this occurred during Covid lockdowns when travel as limited.

Separately from her taxpayer-funded travel, Senator Price also accepted travel costs from private donors.

Her declaration of gifts to the Senate reveal she also accepted flights and accommodation from mathematician philosopher and political donor James Franklin.

It included Mr Franklin paying for her family to attend Canberra for the Senator’s first speech at a cost of $6562.

Ms Price has also declared gifted travel costs across the same period. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“On 1 April 2023 I spoke at the Sydney book launch of Catholic Thought and Catholic Action, written by Professor James Franklin. Accommodation and flight expenses were covered by Professor Franklin,’’ Senator Price declared on her register of interests.

“I am a lead spokeswoman for Advance’s Fair Australia campaign against a constitutionally enshrined Voice and regularly speak at events organised by Advance Australia. On occasion, modest expenses for my attendance at these may be covered by Advance, including my participation in the recent “No” speaking tour where I spoke at events in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney between 25 April – 6 May 2023. This included flights for one of my sons to accompany me at the recent Brisbane event.

“Between 18-19 November 2022, I presented at “No” events in Brisbane, organised by Advance Australia, who covered the accommodation and flights for my husband and I to attend.

“On 4 April 2023 I spoke for the “No” side at a referendum debate hosted by the CIS in Sydney. CIS covered my accommodation and flights.”