Australia.. Ministers accused of wasting budget money on family vacations

Australian government ministers are facing harsh criticism for lavish travel and family leave funded from the federal budget.

According to what was reported by The Australian newspaper, opposition members are calling for a review of the validity of travel expenses, and a review of the current system of benefits and compensation provided to members of the Cabinet and their families.

The government has been criticized over a family trip by Communications and Sport Minister Annika Wells to the Thredbo ski resort, 500 kilometers southwest of Sydney. The trip, which has nothing to do with the minister’s work, cost more than 3,000 Australian dollars (2,000 US dollars) and was financed entirely from the federal budget.

“Wales is absolutely unparalleled. None of my fellow MPs have ever gone on a taxpayer-funded ski holiday,” said James Patterson, spokesman for the opposition Australian Liberal Party, proposing “immediate changes to the rules governing ministers’ travel expenses.”

Local media also revealed that Wales spent approximately 100,000 Australian dollars (66,600 US dollars) of her budget on family trips to New York and Paris, and bought tickets to attend sporting events, for which she spent 8,500 Australian dollars (5,600 US dollars). Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell’s travel expenses were also published, revealing he spent nearly A$50,000 (US$33,000) of his budget on airfare for his family.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the criticism, but refused to change current rules on government travel expenses. He said: “The situation is controversial, and I completely understand that, and I also understand that taxpayers have the right to expect that their money will be spent optimally. Minister Wales has contacted the Parliamentary Expenditure Control Office, which will evaluate the trip, and we will await its recommendations.”

The Prime Minister stressed that “his government did not establish the rules that guarantee benefits and compensation for ministers.”

Under current Australian law, members of federal parliament and government officials are entitled to reimbursement for their travel expenses and those of their family members. Members of Parliament are entitled to refund the costs of nine business class flights between their home city and Canberra, in addition to three economy class flights to other destinations in Australia. Ministers, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and opposition leaders are entitled to redeem an unlimited number of trips for themselves and their family members.