EDITORIAL: PM says perks out of his hands. That’s rubbish

Anthony Albanese’s claim that the rules governing MP entitlements aren’t his responsibility because he isn’t the finance minister is about as absurd as spending $2800 of taxpayer money on a family holiday to Thredbo.

No, he’s not the finance minister. He’s the Prime Minister.

And as the name of that office implies, ultimate authority — and responsibility — rests with him.

To claim this whole mess is nothing to do with him is Mr Albanese treating Australians with contempt.

And it is politicians treating Australians with contempt that has led to this scandal blowing up in the first place.

How else do you explain Communications Minister Anika Wells’ decision to spend thousands flying her husband to consecutive AFL grand finals?

Or Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell expecting taxpayers to cough up $116,000 to fly his family members around the country since 2022, including to attend the opera and a dinner at Uluru (both for free)?

Or Queensland National Andrew Willcox, whose family travel bill across the same period reached $123,769?

Or Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who spent almost $50,000 to fly her lobbyist husband Ben Oquist between Adelaide and Canberra?

The pan-partisan nature of the affluenza afflicting our Federal politicians explains why few have been game to speak out. If they’re not in on it themselves, they know their colleagues are.

With a fuller picture of the unrestrained largesse by some politicians now available, Ms Wells’ decision to dig in when details of her spending were first revealed own makes more sense. She likely reasoned that she was far from the worst offender, why should she be the only one to cop it?

Unfortunately for taxpayers, she’s right.

Travel entitlements for politicians and their families are purposely broad in recognition of the uniquely gruelling nature of the job. It’s left open to individual members to judge what is an appropriate use of taxpayer money.

The problem is that some members see this not as a privilege and responsibility, but as an opportunity to exploit the system for all they can get, and hide behind the flimsy excuse that it’s all “within the rules”.

So the rules should be changed.

Contrary to Mr Albanese’s deflection, that’s easily done. He could do it today if he wanted to, by directing Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (who has spent $0 on family travel since 2022) to update the regulations which govern the perk’s usage.

That he hasn’t says it all about the regard with which he holds “community expectations”.

These are rules created for politicians, by politicians. That explains why they continue to exist in 2025, despite being so far out of step with the reality faced by every other Australian worker.

Spending a little more time with the regular folk in economy might give them a greater appreciation for those “community expectations” they claim to understand.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.