Watchdog probe into Nationals leader David Littleproud’s expenses

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority has launched an audit into Nationals leader David Littleproud’s expenses following taxpayer-funded travel to the Gold Coast.

Nationals leader David Littleproud. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority has launched an audit into Nationals leader David Littleproud’s expenses following taxpayer-funded travel to the Gold Coast weeks after purchasing a $1.375m luxury beachfront apartment.

The Australian understands the IPEA audit of Mr Littleproud’s travel expenses commenced last week following revelations that the Queensland MP had travelled between the Gold Coast and Canberra after leaving parliament early on February 9 for a family commitment.

Mr Littleproud and partner Amelia Dobson bought the Surfers Paradise apartment on December 12, with the property settled in January.

The couple’s private residence is listed as Ryeford, which is in Mr Littleproud’s sprawling south-western Queensland electorate.

Mr Littleproud told The Australian his “return to family in Queensland was within both the spirit and intent of IPEA rules, which allows MPs to return to their families when parliament is not sitting”.

The Maranoa MP purchased the Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise apartment as an investment to be rented by Accor, and will not reside there.

Under IPEA guidelines, which Mr Littleproud is understood to have checked, MPs can return to their home state to be with their families when parliament is not sitting.

The timing of the Gold Coast trip coincided with three bushfires in Mr Littleproud’s ­Maranoa electorate, which worsened the following week.

The long weekend on the Gold Coast, which The Australian does not suggest constituted a breach of IPEA rules, included business class flights to and from the tourist strip. He returned to Canberra on February 12.

Two days after returning, Mr Littleproud listed the Gold Coast property on his parliamentary register of interest.

In a statement, IPEA said it “does not generally comment on individual matters as it could potentially compromise the conduct and/or outcome of any investi­gation, and the privacy of individuals concerned”.

A Department of Finance spokeswoman said IPEA was ­“responsible for administering eligible domestic travel expenses and allowances claimed by parliamentarians under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act”.

“Members are personally responsible and accountable for use of public resources,” she said.

“ ­Expenses claimed must meet all obligations under the PBR Act, including being for the dominant purpose of conducting the member’s parliamentary business.”

Nationals sources said there was confusion internally about the rules following Mr Littleproud’s Gold Coast trip, where he is understood to have claimed COMCAR travel expenses.

Parliamentary travel guidelines were tightened in 2017 after Liberal MP Sussan Ley charged taxpayers for a trip to the Gold Coast where she bought a $795,000 apartment.

The guidelines state that within Australia, MPs can claim expenses under a range of obligations including “where travel is undertaken and related expenses claimed are for the ‘dominant purpose’ of conducting parliamentary business”.

Other obligations include MPs acting “ethically and in good faith when using parliamentary business resources”.

“Parliamentarians are personally responsible and accountable for their use of public resources, and must consider how the public would perceive their use of those resources,” the IPEA guidelines say.