Political expenses scandal: Julie Bishop billed taxpayers for polo trip

Sydney Morning Herald JAN. 11 2017 - 8:20AM

AAP

Julie Bishop is the latest politician facing scrutiny over travel expense claims as calls for an overhaul of the entitlements system grow louder.

The foreign minister charged taxpayers more than $2700 to attend a polo event last year on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula as a guest of Peroni and Jeep.

Her office told the ABC Ms Bishop was there on official ministerial business in her capacity as foreign minister and deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

It's also been revealed three others, two government ministers and a Tasmanian senator, claimed thousands for a trip to the AFL grand final in 2013.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, whose department oversees politicians' entitlements, billed taxpayers $3533 for his and his wife's airfares to attend the match, ABC reports.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobi charged taxpayers $1102 for airfares the match, which Tasmanian senator David Bushby billed taxpayers $863 for his Hobart-Melbourne return flight.

Cabinet minister Darren Chester settled on an investment property while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Melbourne, where he also attended the Australian Open tennis.

According to Mr Chester's register of interests, he purchased a two-bedroom unit in Ivanhoe, a leafy suburb in north-east Melbourne, while on official business on January 27 2016. A spokeswoman said this was the date of settlement for the property and that Mr Chester collected the keys to the unit on this date.

At the time Mr Chester, now the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, was the assistant minister for defence.

Mr Chester claimed travel allowance, worth $876, for January 26 and 27.

It follows the scandal around Sussan Ley, who was forced to stand aside as health minister pending investigations into trips she made to the Gold Coast.

On one of them, she bought an $800,000 apartment.

The federal government has vowed to make changes to the entitlements in the first half of 2017 based on recommendations from a review published early last year.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has reiterated calls for a national anti- corruption body that will in part scrutinise politicians' expense claims.

Crossbencher Nick Xenophon also wants an independent watchdog, as well as real- time disclosure of claims and harsher penalties for those who exploit rules.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told the Seven Network on Wednesday the politicians should pay back the money as well as copping a "heavy fine".

"We have the be responsible for the money we spend on our travel or flights that are taken and not to visit these functions that are funded for donations to the political party or their campaigns. It is wrong."

Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm said the primary purpose of the expense has to be related to the job.

"We need to be very conscious of the fact it is not our money we are spending," he told Seven.

"The committee has recommended that the word 'entitlements' be dropped and the phrase 'expense of jobs' be used instead," he said.

Senator Hanson said she had not seen the government's recommendations made by an independent review 11 months ago after Bronwyn Bishop's expenses scandal.