SA taxpayers fork out more than $160,000 to send MPs, staffer and senior public servants on study tour

SA taxpayers have foot the bill to send a group of politicians and public servants on a European study tour.

South Australian taxpayers forked out more than $160,000 to send Planning Minister Nick Champion, his staffer, an opposition MP and senior public servants on a study tour that visited London, Paris and Milan.

The group, which included opposition urban development spokeswoman Michelle Lensink, flew business class and stayed in luxury hotels while on the nine-day Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) tour in May last year.

The trip has come under attack from One Nation MLC Sarah Game, who suggested it had until now dodged scrutiny because the opposition was “in on it”.

Mr Champion and his staffer charged taxpayers $61,041 for their trip but, beyond the $12,000 per person tour registration fee, his office refused to provide a breakdown of how the money was spent.

Planning Minister Nick Champion refused to provide a breakdown of how $61,045 in travel expenses was spent. Picture: Mark Brake

Another $23,387 was spent on Ms Lensink’s expenses – $11,387 on flights and the $12,000 registration fee, which covered accommodation, guided site visits and some meals.

Two senior public servants also attended, with their departments disclosing another combined $76,320 in travel expenses – taking the total cost to $160,748.

The figures are made public by the state government in online disclosure logs.

The tour was attended by about 30 people from within the industry, who visited various development sites in each country.

The UDIA study tour group, which included Planning Minister Nick Champion and Michelle Lensink. Most in the group were not funded by SA taxpayers. Picture: UDIA SA/LinkedIn

Ms Game slammed the trip as “an example of the disgusting and extravagant expenditure on non essential overseas trips we commonly see from the major parties”.

“The minister and shadow minister need to immediately justify this exorbitant expense to hardworking taxpayers,” she said.

“I am concerned that the opposition has been very quiet regarding this trip – because they have been in on it.”

Ms Game pointed out that expenses were not disclosed until three months after the trip, and basic details were not provided.

A bill she introduced, passed by parliament last year, tightened requirements around such disclosures.

Mr Champion, who said he met all disclosure requirements, attended meetings with defence companies Rolls Royce and Babcock while on the trip, and held discussions with the wine sector and trade officials.

He said the UDIA study tour was a chance to see first-hand the planning and development strategies that are working overseas, and he was glad Ms Lensink had attended.

“The community should feel encouraged that politicians can put their differences aside to come together and learn what can be done to help the people of South Australia,” he said.

Ms Lensink said the cheapest airfare offered by the government’s contracted travel agent was chosen, and the trip had been worthwhile.

“South Australia is in the grips of a housing crisis and this collaborative trip by the government and opposition was crucial to witness first-hand how other global cities are implementing medium-high density building programs to accommodate population growth,” she said.

Originally published as SA taxpayers fork out more than $160,000 to send MPs, staffer and senior public servants on study tour