Senator Jacqui Lambie went on a fact-finding tour about the cashless welfare card

The latest report on federal politicians’ travel expenses has been released. Find out who spent the most and where our representatives travelled.

AN outback fact-finding tour and chartered flights to King Island featured in Tasmanian federal MPs’ recent travel expenses.

The independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority report for the March quarter showed Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck, whose ministerial portfolios cover aged care, seniors, sport and youth, was again the biggest spender on travel.

Senator Colbeck claimed $23,755 for domestic scheduled travel for the period.

Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck was again the Federal Tasmanian MP with the largest travel expenditure. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty

The second biggest spender on domestic travel was Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Tourism Jonathon Duniam, who spent $16,617.

Senator Jacqui Lambie’s $11,477 travel bill included a tour of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

The Burnie-based Senator’s travel took in Alice Springs, Darwin, Kununurra, Broome and Kalgoorlie.

Senator Jacqui Lambie toured the country’s north and west on a fact-finding mission for a cashless welfare card proposal. Picture: GARY RAMAGE

A spokeswoman for Senator Lambie said the travel was part of a fact-finding mission about the cashless debit card.

Senator Lambie’s vote was crucial to the Federal Government’s bid to extend the trial.

“She’s followed the card very closely from the beginning,” the spokeswoman said.

Senator Lambie’s overall domestic travel bill for the period was $11,477.85.

Braddon Liberal MP Gavin Pearce spent $4112 on unscheduled travel to King Island in December.

A spokeswoman for Mr Pearce said the trip was to take Federal Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on a tour of the electorate to discuss local issues.

“It was a visit specifically to the West Coast and King Island to look at telecommunications,” the spokeswoman said.

Braddon Liberal MP Gavin Pearce. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

No Tasmanian MPs undertook any taxpayer-funded international travel during the quarter.

The biggest spending on office administration was independent Clark MP Andrew Wilkie, who spent $41,946, mostly on printing and communications.