Federal politicians billed taxpayers over $1.1 million in a single year for family travel, with Tourism Minister Don Farrell recording the highest expense of $45,926.84 for the 2024–25 financial year. Parliamentary rules allow politicians away on official business to fly their partner, children, and other eligible family members to them at taxpayer expense, including a driver to and from the airport.
Senator Fatima Payman expensed $41,438.22, former opposition leader Peter Dutton $38,772.83, and Nationals MP Andrew Wilcox $33,758.30, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had the sixth-highest expense at $30,253.08. In total, parliamentarians spent $1,188,909 on family travel last year, with higher bills typically incurred by MPs and senators based in South Australia, Western Australia, and rural Queensland due to longer flights.
Since July, the new financial year has already seen $476,211.50 accrued in family travel, with Labor MP Patrick Gorman leading at $18,951.47, followed by former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds ($15,166.65) and Farrell ($14,828.67).
The practice has faced scrutiny after Communications Minister Anika Wells was revealed to have billed more than $100,000 for a New York trip, along with $4,000 to fly her husband to a cricket match and $3,000 for a family ski trip. Wells and other politicians, including Albanese, defended the expenses as within parliamentary rules, but critics argue the spending is excessive amid rising living costs. Wells has voluntarily referred herself to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for audit.
Under the rules, politicians can arrange reunion flights for their partner, children, and eligible family members while on official business in Canberra or across Australia. Limits include nine business-class return flights for partners and three economy-class return flights for children to Canberra per year, and three business-class return flights for travel across Australia. Costs for a driver to and from the airport are also covered, while unaccompanied children are reimbursed for taxi or rideshare trips. The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority oversees all family reunion travel to ensure compliance.
