Topical 11/12/25

What is acceptable spending for a Member of Parliament? That is the question on many people’s minds this week after it was revealed a federal government minister used family member travel entitlements to fly family members to major national sporting events. The same minister also used entitlements to take her family to the ski fields for a work trip. The minister told media this week the spending was within the existing rules. “While it might be within the rules, it doesn’t pass the pub test,” a correspondent tells Topical. “This would not be acceptable in private business, and it shouldn’t be acceptable in government.” ABC analysis of parliamentarians’ family travel expenses for 2024-25 showed that more than $700,000 was spent on travel to and from Canberra, almost $400,000 on flights between other destinations in Australia, and $60,000 on chauffeured vehicles and other car expenses.