Bishop’s boyfriend flying high on the public’s purse

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop continues to claim taxpayer-funded family travel for her boyfriend David Panton.

Julie Bishop and her boyfriend David Panton at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Ball. Picture: Christian Gilles

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop continues to claim taxpayer-funded family travel for her long-term property developer boyfriend David Panton, despite failing to disclose his financial interests on the parliamentary register because she has not classified him as her spouse or de facto partner.

Ms Bishop claimed $1075 on travel expenses for Mr Panton between October and December last year, but has claimed $32,000 in taxpayer-funded family travel for Mr Panton since 2015. The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority yesterday published parliamentarians’ expenses for the final quarter of 2017.

In October, The Australian contacted Ms Bishop’s office with detailed questions about whether she had charged taxpayers to stay at Mr Panton’s Melbourne residence, and why she had not disclosed his pecuniary interests on the parliamentary register of members’ interests, after it was revealed she had claimed travel expenses for her fourth consecutive taxpayer-funded AFL grand final weekend in Melbourne.

Ms Bishop’s office yesterday maintained that Mr Panton was “the minister’s nominated person for the purpose of domestic travel”, and that Ms Bishop was “compliant with the register of interests”, but declined to provide further comment.

Ms Bishop’s refusal to declare Mr Panton as her spouse highlights how politicians who are not married or living with their partners can avoid requirements to declare their interests.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has faced repeated questions about when his former staffer Vikki Campion became his partner, and how that may impact upon his compliance with the ministerial code of conduct.

Mr Joyce’s expense claims are currently being investigated by the IPEA, after Ms Campion, his former media adviser, left his office in April 2017 to work for minister Matt Canavan, and later fellow National Damian Drum.

The former Nationals leader claimed $1590 worth of travel allowance for one undisclosed family member to fly from Canberra to Sydney, and from Canberra to Tamworth via Sydney in October.

He did not make travel allowance claims when he returned to parliament after the New England by-election, but did claim $253 for children’s books. Mr Joyce’s office said the books were for schools in his New England electorate.

His office did not answer questions about a $500 “accident excess” charge from April 2017 for his private-plated vehicle, and three $58 charges for “no show” Comcar bookings, one made in Canberra on October 27, the same day Mr Joyce’s election was found invalid by the High Court.

Mr Joyce claimed travel allowance for 18 nights in Canberra, including 11 nights in September, October and December when parliament was not sitting.