‘Very comfortable’: Minister’s call on family travel expense scandal

Cabinet minister Chris Bowen has weighed in on the family travel expense scandal saying it was appropriate for two colleagues to refer themselves for audit and showed they were “very comfortable” with their actions.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and Communication Minister Anika Wells referred themselves to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, amid their use of a family travel expense privilege.

It was revealed Ms Wells flew family to New York and major sporting events costing taxpayers $107,000 and the Attorney-General flew her family to Western Australia for a trip that cost $21,685.

There is no suggestion either minister was engaged in any wrongdoing, but the allowance has come under scrutiny with family travel expenses costing taxpayers $1.1m last financial year.

Mr Bowen said it was appropriate action for the ministers to take when questions had been raised about their expenses.

Speaking on Saturday, he said: “I think when you have two ministers referring themselves that shows they are very comfortable in full scrutiny and in saying, look, please have a look at this.

“The Prime Minister has asked for advice and I think that’s the right approach from the independent authority as to what changes.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought advice from the independent watchdog on whether parliamentary entitlement rules should change amid the saga.

The opposition leader has also offered to meet with Mr Albanese to develop reforms to parliamentary expense guidelines.

Speaking about Ms Wells, Ms Ley said: “She has not shown an ounce of contrition. She has not stepped up and said sorry, or she understands what struggling Australians are going through.”

Ms Ley, who resigned from her position as health minister over a similar entitlements scandal almost a decade ago, said: “I made a mistake. I put my hand up, I apologised to the Australian people, and I held myself accountable to the ministerial code of conduct.

“She has not shown an ounce of contrition. She has not stepped up and said sorry, or she understands what struggling Australians are going through.

“She hasn’t referred herself to her Prime Minister’s ministerial code of conduct, either, but it is incumbent on the prime minister who trumpeted this code of conduct, who talked about transparency and integrity and new standards.”