Local politicians expenses revealed
Above from left Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, Senator Perin Davey and Member for Riverina Mark McCormack have provided details of their April to June 2024 expenses.
By Krista Schade
The April to June expenses figures for Australian politicians revealed vast sums being paid for travel and electorate offices in the local region.
When the cost-of-living crisis is forcing families to tighten their belts, the amounts spent by elected officials have raised some eyebrows.
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley spent $28,822 on interstate travel to tropical Queensland and Perth, and her team of nine staffers racked up more than $93,340 worth of travel in the three-month period.
Of the $21,649 paid in travel allowance, Ms Ley reported just $3,591 was for business related to the seat of Farrer, with the remainder for Party or parliamentary business.
Ms Ley’s Albury office reported the highest expenditure for office facilities and administration ($228,572), compared to others in the region.
Senator Perrin Davey’s Deniliquin-based office reported a more modest $50,899 for the same expenditure item, while Member for Riverina Michael McCormick reported $203,808, and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton spent $110,781.
As a comparison, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reported $163,387 for his office expenses in his Sydney base in Marrickville.
Mr McCormack spent $6801 on travel, of which $1,050 was for electorate business, but under $500 on commercial travel.
Mr Coulton spent more - over $69,000 – but he stayed within the electorate, or claimed trips to Canberra and one-third of his travel allowance was spent in his electorate.
Senator Davey’s travel allowance of $17,438 reported just $394 was for electorate business, and Ms Davey also reported $7,438 for travel to New Zealand for five days in April. The Senator travelled as part of the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience delegation.
Senator Davey was also the only regional politician to report family travel of $816 to the vastly different landscapes of Conargo and Canberra. Under the rules parliamentarians’ spouses, children or nominated persons can claim travel in some circumstances.
Travel allowances are paid to parliamentarians for each night they stay away from home, within Australia.
How the numbers stack up:
Sussan Ley – Member for Farrer
Total quarterly expenditure April to June 2024 - $385,049.20
Previous quarter total expenditure $330,285.64
Travel allowance - $21,649
Commercial travel - $28,822
Office facilities and administration - $228,572
Domestic travel for nine employees - $93,340.33
Michael McCormick – Member for Riverina
Total quarterly expenditure April to June 2024 - $237,433.38
Previous quarter total expenditure - $125,821.21
Travel allowance - $6861
Commercial travel - $447
Office facilities and admin - $203,808
Domestic travel for five employees – $16,125
Mark Coulton - Member for Parkes
Total quarterly expenditure April to June 2024 - $222,841.15
Previous quarter total expenditure - $184,701.71
Travel allowance - $9309
Commercial travel - $69,214
Office facilities and administration - $110,781
Domestic travel for eight employees – $18,995
Senator Perrin Davey
Total quarterly expenditure April to June 2024 - $109,471.08
Previous quarter total expenditure - $61,189.28
Travel allowance - $17,438 of which $394 was electorate biz
International travel - $7320
Commercial travel - $4799
Family travel - $816
Office facilities and administration - $50,899 and Domestic travel for five employees - $22,570.
