Sidelined health minister Sussan Ley claims her spending of taxpayer money was legitimate

SIDELINED health minister Sussan Ley claims expensive taxpayer-funded charter flights she took between capital cities were legitimate.

SUSSAN Ley claims the expensive taxpayer-funded charter flights were legitimate.

The health minister, who stood aside after revelations of dodgy spending of taxpayer money, said she had good reason to take two flights between capital cities, which cost around $7000 each.

The first flight was between Canberra and Melbourne in July 2014 and the second between Canberra and Adelaide in May 2015.

Fairfax Media reports Ms Ley’s spokesman claims she had booked commercial flights but last minute circumstances meant she couldn’t board them.

She claims in July 2014, when she was the Assistant Minister for Education, the Productivity Commission made a late decision to launch a report into childcare, preventing her from catching her flight.

She had a committment in Melbourne to open the National Association of Mobile Child Care Services conference and she claims the only way she could get there in time was if she took a $6300 chartered flight.

“In order to ensure both important ministerial commitments were met, the most time-efficient and cost-effective direct form of transport availble between the two cities at that time of day was orgnaised within official rules,” the spokesman told Fairfax.

Minister for health Sussan Ley justifies her spending. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

In regards to the flight in 2015, which coast almost $7000, Ms Ley claims a late request from the Prime Minister meant she couldn’t board her already booked commercial flight to Adelaide.

“In order for the minister to meet her long-standing commitments in Kadina and Peterborough a charter flight was necessary,” the spokesman said.

It has been revealed this week Ms Ley also spent taxpayer money to attend a glamorous wedding on the Gold Coast and also purchased a $795,000 apartment in May 2015 while on a taxpayer-funded trip.

Cabinent minister Steve Ciobo has since staunchly 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.

“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.

Cabinet minister Steve Ciobo defends MPs spending taxpayer dollars. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

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 used 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,” he said.

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

It was revealed this week Ms Ley billed taxpayers to attend a glamorous wedding of Queensland employment millionaire Sarina Russo.

Sussan Ley stepped aside as health minister billed taxpayers to attend a glamorous wedding of Queensland employment millionaire Sarina Russo.

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.