Labor MPs claimed travel expenses to attend national conference

Senior MPs, including Anthony Albanese, claimed travel to attend the ALP national conference.

Former Labor leadrship team Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek, centre, with Penny Wong and Wayna Swan at the ALP national conference last December.

Anthony Albanese and senior MPs claimed more than $114,000 in taxpayer-funded travel entitlements to attend the ALP’s national conference, which was criticised by union bosses as a symbolic gathering designed to avoid debate before the May 18 federal election.

An analysis of travel expenses lodged by opposition frontben­chers and shadow assistant ministers reveals mass claims to cover car costs, travel allowance and domestic flights.

Mr Albanese — now Opposition Leader — and MPs, including Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek, Michelle Rowland and Linda Burney, claimed travel expenses to ­attend the event in Adelaide from December 16-18.

While South Australian oppostion cabinet members did not claim entitlements, Mr Albanese and his frontbench colleagues claimed varying amounts.

Independent Parliamentary ­Expenses Authority data detailing expenses lodged before, during and after the conference show Mr Albanese claimed $3670. Ms Rowland and Ms Burney claimed more than $4000, Ms Plibersek claimed $3837 and Mr Shorten, who quit the leadership after the election loss, claim­ed $4321.

ALP national president and former treasurer Wayne Swan — who presided over debate and votes at the conference — claimed $3718.

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick yesterday attacked the use of taxpayer funds to attend party conferences, saying the rules should be changed to stop political parties from using entitlements for such events.

“I don’t think we should be spending taxpayers’ money on party conferences,” Senator Patrick said.

“These are purely political events; it’s not parliamentary business. There are facilities at Parliament House that the major parties can use if they want to hold such meetings.

“Centre Alliance certainly don’t use taxpayer funds for our own gatherings.” Senator Patrick said that during the election campaign he travelled “quite extensively around SA” but “that was me ­getting out there and meeting with people”.

“We do need reform to stop this sort of spending,” he said. “It’s all tied up with the need to reform political donations … the problem is getting any of this past the duopoly in both houses of parliament.”

The latest travel claims also show Malcolm Turnbull, as a former prime minister, claimed three Comcar charges on February 5, ­totalling almost $1000.

On the same day, he spoke to ­reporters at Melbourne airport about the final banking royal commission report, declaring: “You should ­always put the customer first.”

A spokesman for the former Liberal leader said: “Mr Turnbull’s Comcar expenses are among the lowest of former prime ministers.

“His total travel costs for the ­reported period are the lowest of all former prime ministers.’’

Shadow special minister of state Don Farrell said the ALP national conference, “like similar forums in other parties, are a legitimate and fundamental part of the democratic process”.

“Labor always seeks the advice and approval of the IPEA prior to undertaking travel to events like this to ensure it is approved under the expenses rules and guidelines,” he said.

“The rules established under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act allow parliamentarians to travel for the dominant purpose of their parliamentary business.”

Senator Farrell said Labor ­expected its MPs to “utilise commonwealth travel in good faith”.

The IPEA figures showed some senior Labor MPs did not claim travel allowance and Comcar ­expenses during their stay in Adelaide. Labor traditionally uses the conference, attended by MPs and union leaders, to formulate policy positions through the ALP national platform.

The conference included a speech by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, which was designed to heal historic rifts within the party. He was granted ALP lifetime membership.