Short-stay MPs burn $775k setting up offices before losing their seats a year later

Tasmanian taxpayers forked out more than $780,000 setting up electorate offices for MPs who served in parliament for just 16 months before losing their seats.

Miriam Beswick, Andrew Jenner, and Rebekah Pentland, pictured here in 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmanian taxpayers spent more than three quarters of a million dollars to set up electorate offices for MPs who served just 16 months before being voted out at the June 19 election.

In some cases the office were used for just a few months after expensive refits and it is unclear whether they will be used again.

The spending was part of $2.8m that was spent upgrading ministerial and electorate offices in the 12 months since April last year.

Documents released by the Department of Premier and Cabinet reveal that establishing an electorate office for Jacqui Lambie Network member for Lyons Andrew Jenner at 13a Tasman Highway, Midway Point cost $182,608.

Andrew Jenner’s electorate office.

The money was spent on consultancy, professional service fees, security, furniture, signage, statutory fees, minor works and whitegoods.

The grand total does not include lease or staff costs.

The office was officially opened by Senator Lambie on December 13 last year. .

Just 188 days later Mr Jenner ran as candidate for the Nationals and received 833 votes — just over one per cent of the total formal first-preference votes.

The DPAC figures reveal establishing an electorate office for Jacqui Lambie Network member for Bass turned independent member for Bass Rebekah Pentland at 87 George Street, Launceston cost taxpayers $231,719.

That figure included professional service fees, minor works, statutory fees, security, furniture,

whitegoods and signage.

Mrs Pentland also looks to have failed in her bid for re-election, having received 1,702 first-preference votes, or 2.5 per cent of the total formal votes counted to date.

Rebekah Pentland

“We did everything we could to avoid the unnecessary and costly early election,” she said.

“Offices and their associated costs are determined by DPAC.

“I didn’t even have an electorate office for most of my first year in parliament. I moved into my Launceston office in April this year.”

And taxpayers spent $227,917 setting up ex-JLN MP Miriam Beswick at 101a Oldaker Street, Devonport.

The figures note expenditure of $216,203 for furniture, fixtures and equipment as well as $11,714 for whitegoods.

Mrs Beswick ran for the Nationals in Braddon and received 766 votes, one per cent of the total formal vote.

Miriam Beswick

“Office costs are unavoidable,” she said. Staff deserve a safe and secure environment to do their jobs.

“There were inevitable costs associated with the size of parliament increasing from 25 to 35 seats.

“I voted against the no-confidence motion that triggered the expensive early election.”

Minister Jacqui Petrusma. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff with Minister for Health Jacquie Petrusma at the Royal Hobart Hospital in relation to elective surgery plan for 2025-2029. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Of government members who look to have been returned to office, Liberal minister Jacquie Petrusma topped the spending with $265,959 to establish her electorate office in Rosny.

Labor’s Meg Brown spend $155,674 getting her electorate office in Rosny up to scratch and Greens Rosalie Woodruff and Vica Bayley spent $212,192 setting up and office to share in Macquarie Street, Hobart.

And Craig Garland topped the returning independents with spending of $270,547 on professional service fees, minor works, security, furniture, whitegoods and statutory fees for his Wynyard office.

“When elected, each Member of Parliament is entitled to an electorate office,” DPAC notes.

“Generally, works occur to electoral offices when there is a relocation to new premises and the tenancy is made fit-for-purpose.”