Crisafulli attacked for use of special pollie’s allowance

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has come under fire for claiming $8332 to stay in Brisbane last financial year despite renovating a home in the inner city electorate of Bulimba.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli flew to Cairns for day one of his campaign to become Queensland premier amid Labor attacks about his use of a special allowance for politicians.

Mr Crisafulli came under fire for claiming $8332 to stay in Brisbane last financial year despite renovating a home in the inner city electorate of Bulimba.

Mr Crisafulli’s office said the LNP leader was entitled to claim the allowance and noted he only claimed it during parliamentary sitting weeks.

Analysis of the parliament’s report on members’ expenditure reveals Mr Crisafulli claimed the cash for staying overnight in Brisbane while on official business.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Photo: Dan Peled

Parliamentary rules entitle all MPs to claim $139 for each night.

Mr Crisafulli has faced criticism for purchasing a property in Bulimba, despite representing the Gold Coast electorate of Broadwater.

His spokesman previously described Labor’s attack as “next level desperate”.

Labor’s Peter Russo, whose Toohey electorate office in Sunnybank is a 15-minute drive from parliament, claimed $13,419 for overnight stays.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie claimed $50,775 for overnight stays in Brisbane.

LNP environment spokesman Sam O’Connor on Monday announced $600,000 for the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

“It’s exciting to be here on day one to talk about turtles,” he said.

“They have tens of thousands of people go through there every year, finding out about why marine conservation is important and this is about backing practical action to improve outcomes for turtles in this region.”

The LNP are targeting the Far North Queensland seats of Barron River, Cairns, Cook and Mulgrave.

Originally published as Crisafulli attacked for use of special pollie’s allowance