Gold Coast MP and Cabinet minister Steve Ciobo defends politicians’ use of taxpayer money to attend sport, corporate events

A GOLD Coast MP has defended politicians’ use of taxpayer money to attend sporting and corporate events ... and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s silence on the growing expenses scandal.

• You pay to fly MPs’ family to Queensland
• Politicians living in a parallel universe

GOLD Coast MP and Cabinet minister Steve Ciobo has defended politicians’ use of taxpayer dollars to attend sporting and corporate events.

Mr Ciobo claimed more than $1000 on airfares for a trip to the 2013 AFL grand final as a guest of National Australia Bank, along with two other ministers.

Gold Coast MP Steven Ciobo. FILE PIC/AAP

“The notion and suggestion that because ministers or parliamentary secretaries or others are invited to go along to these events, specifically by businesses and organisations who are taking the opportunity to showcase themselves there and to take the time to have a conversation in relation to important matters, absolutely is work-related,” he told ABC radio on Friday.

He said he was invited to the grand final not because he was Steve Ciobo, but because he was parliamentary secretary to the treasurer at the time.

He admitted he uses a taxpayer-funded car to go to sporting matches in his Queensland electorate “and I think people expect that”.

“I can certainly say as an Australian, I would love to see Australia’s prime minister — I don’t care whether it’s Liberal or Labor — at a key game ... between the Wallabies and All Blacks.”

Mr Ciobo also defended Malcolm Turnbull’s silence on the issue of entitlements since expense revelations that led to Sussan Ley standing aside as health minister.

He said the acting Special Minister of State Kelly O’Dwyer has addressed media and that the government’s made it clear it intends to move legislation to reform workplace-related expenses for parliamentarians.

“I don’t believe the prime minister needs to come out on each and every single issue that’s running each and every single day,” he said.

Originally published as Gold Coast MP and Cabinet minister Steve Ciobo defends politicians’ use of taxpayer money to attend sport, corporate events