Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones bills taxpayers $43k for hire car rides to parliament

Labor ministers stand accused of being ‘spending addicts’ in a cost of living crisis after it was revealed Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones racked up a $43k hire car bill in just nine months, while also charging taxpayers for a private vehicle.

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has refused to explain why he appears to have double-dipped on MP entitlements, by using an expensive COMCAR while also having access to a personal vehicle.

Mr Jones charges taxpayers for a private-plated vehicle, including a fuel allowance. However, on at least three occasions he used Government-issued hire cars for the 2.5 hour journey between his Shellharbour electorate to Parliament House.

The three trips were part of a $43,000 COMCAR bill Mr Jones racked up between April and December 2022 - which included Labor’s first 7 months in Government. In the same year - he also claimed more than $11,000 for a personal vehicle.

COMCARS are available for MPs via a phone APP at the cost of $2.10 per minute, plus additional charges depending on tolls, location and wait time.

However, according to the Department of Finance, the service is strictly for MPs “undertaking parliamentary business … when their private plated-vehicle could not reasonably be used.”

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information reveal a correlation between 2022 Lower House sitting dates and Mr Jones’ most expensive COMCAR bookings.That includes a $1097 trip from his house at Mount Warrigal to Canberra on Sunday September 4 — a day before parliament resumed.

Stephen Jones claimed $43,000 over a nine-month period. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Taxpayers also covered the cost of a $905 journey from Mr Jones’ home to Canberra at 4.30am on Friday, September 23.

A day later, he booked a Saturday morning chauffeur to return him to Mount Warrigal at a cost of $922.

A spokesman for Mr Jones refused to explain why he did not use his taxpayer-funded private vehicle for the individual trips, simply saying: “Parliamentarians are able to access travel, including flights and COMCAR for their parliamentary business, in accordance with the relevant rules and guidelines”.

Mr Jones’ excessive COMCAR use has drawn a scathing response from fellow MPs .

‘Labor ministers are addicted to spending’ says Keith Pitt.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Nationals MP Keith Pitt said: “Labor ministers are spending addicts, tax addicts and it appears COMCAR leather addicts. Tony Burke can’t travel without a dry cleaner when overseas and Stephen Jones thinks he’s entitled to a chauffeur in his electorate.”

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Luke Howarth said: “At a time when Australians are doing it tough and with cost of living through the roof, Stephen Jones should be setting an example and driving himself to Canberra.”

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie also took aim at Mr Jones on Monday.

“There’s plenty of others (MPs) that come from NSW for sittings and cap travel a lot further to get there for those sitting weeks and drive their own cars over,” she told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

The commute from Mount Warrigal in the Illawarra to the nation's capital is about 215km. Picture: Google Maps

“Everyone’s doing it tough out there at the moment so this is like a slap across the face, that’s how I see it. Seriously don’t be so bloody lazy.”

However, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek leapt to her colleague’s defence.

“Stephen lives in a regional area. He’s got a lot of travel to do.” Ms Plibersek said on Sunrise on Monday.

The Assistant Treasurer’s use of the taxpayer-funded hire cars is vastly different to other federal MPs in nearby NSW electorates.

Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones vastly outspent his neighbouring MPs when it comes to COMCAR rides. Picture: Blair Jackson

Mr Jones’ Mount Warrigal residence is roughly 215km from Canberra. Between April and December 2022, he spent $43,000 on COMCAR rides and $11,000 renting a private vehicle.

His neighbouring Labor colleague, MP Alison Byrnes, lives in Wollongong – about 250km from Canberra – and regularly drives herself to parliament.

She spent less than $800 on COMCAR rides and about $6000 renting a private car.

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips, who lives 200km from parliament, spent just $244 on COMCARs and about $13,000 on a vehicle and petrol.

An Uber Comfort from Mr Jones’ home to Canberra would cost about $460.

The revelations about Mr Jones’ use of COMCARs follow The Daily Telegraph’s exclusive story on his ministerial colleague Tony Burke, who spent $58,000 on a four-day trip to Washington.

“It really disgusts me that this sort of spending is going on. But in some ways it doesn’t surprise me. Most of these politicians have never run a business, employed staff” One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson said.

“This is unreasonable. There is no reason he can’t drive himself like other MPs.

“Stephen Jones needs to be asked, if he had to pay for the COMCAR himself, would he take the trip?”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones bills taxpayers $43k for hire car rides to parliament