By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Federal MP for Holt Anthony Byrne has backed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in his calls for a tightening of politicians’ entitlements.
The call comes less than a week after embattled Health Minister Sussan Ley resigned after news broke that she had used taxpayer money to fund trips to the Gold Coast with her partner.
It was during one of these publicly funded $3949 trips that she purchased an apartment worth $795,000 in May 2015.
A statement from Mr Byrne’s office says he “is deeply concerned about the revelations of significant expenditures by politicians on questionable grounds.”
Since the scandal broke, Mr Turnbull announced the introduction of an independent body to oversee expenditure by MPs that will be modelled on the UK’s Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
Mr Byrne said in the statement he “is pleased to support Mr Turnbull’s recent announcements about an Independent Tribunal holding politicians to account on behalf of the public.”
Mr Byrne said the guidelines for travel by politicians were too ambiguous and needed to be reformed urgently.
Federal MP for Latrobe Jason Wood has echoed the sentiments of Mr Byrne, saying tax payers deserve a more transparent parliamentary entitlements system.
“Taxpayers rightly expect that the Australian Government will spend their hard-earned money wisely and with respect,” he said.
“The parliamentary expenses system needs to change and the government is implementing changes as recommended by the Independent Review into Parliamentarians’ Work Expenses.”
While Mr Byrne’s expenditure in the first half of 2016 was modest compared to other MPs, there was significant claims made by the member for Holt for Overseas Travel and Office Administrative Costs.
Between 1 January and 30 June 2016, Mr Byrne claimed $104,716.75 of public money for Office Administrative Costs such as office consumables and services, publications and printing and communications.
During the same period, he claimed $11,856.13 in overseas travel expenses for a nine- day trip to the USA from 28 January to 6 February 2016.
Mr Byrne said the expenses claimed for that overseas trip were above board and strictly related to his work.
“This was to visit and attend meetings with US Intelligence Agencies such as the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security and congressional oversight committees on Capitol Hill in light of my role as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security,” he said.
“The costs included flights, accommodation and travel expenses.”
