The Australian government is implementing stricter rules on politicians' family travel entitlements following recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.

Canberra

The Australian government has announced new restrictions on taxpayer-funded family travel for politicians, following recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority. The changes include limiting family reunion travel to economy class and restricting it to Canberra, the MP's local area, or, for Senators, their state. 

These measures come after public scrutiny of trips by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and Communications Minister Annika Wells, which, while within guidelines, raised questions about entitlement. The Remuneration Tribunal will review the recommendations and is expected to make a decision early next year.

New restrictions on taxpayer-funded family travel for MPs

Changes were announced, well we found out about them a few days ago, it's a raft of recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority about 9 or 10 days ago but they weren't made public by the Prime Minister due to the Bondi terror attack. Now these changes, including ensuring all family reunion travel for politicians is booked in economy class only. It would also see family reunion travel restricted to within Canberra or the MP's local area or electorate. For a Senator it would be within their own state. If a partner or spouse of a politician needs to travel on the taxpayer dime for an event, they have to be specifically invited and the politician who is going has to be linked to their portfolio. For example, the Sports Minister would go to a sports event. These changes have all been brought about after serious questions were raised over the flexibility of these rules. An example includes Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, she was forced back to pay taxpayer expenses for a week-long trip to Perth in 2023 that cost taxpayers more than $21,000. Communications Minister Annika Wells was also scrutinised over a $3,000 trip to Thredbo for her family when she was as Sports Minister. They were all within the guidelines and that raised those questions. The opposition today has been scathing, saying the move is an admission by the Prime Minister that he simply resided over a rotten culture of entitlement and arrogance. Here's the PM explaining part of those changes. Careful consideration be given to new mothers or fathers, but to children essentially who are dependents as well, to make sure that we don't disadvantage parents. The Remuneration Tribunal will now look at these recommendations and come back with a decision earlier next year, hopefully to put this issue to bed once and for all. Taylor.

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