$1,352 for Christopher Pyne’s day use of London hotel room
April 2013
Taxpayers were billed $1,352 to “day let” a room at a swish London hotel before the then education minister and his wife, Carolyn, flew back to Australia on the same day, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
More than $2,000 was also spent on VIP services at Heathrow Airport for the Pynes.
Mr Pyne and his wife enjoyed a $30,000 lavish trip to London and Rome in April paid for by taxpayers.
Documents released by the Education Department after a Freedom of Information request revealed Mr Pyne got around guidelines that prevent spouses being funded on overseas trips unless in certain circumstances with a special letter of approval by Mr Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
A 30-year veteran of the mainstream media, Liz was the editor of MWMuntil June 2021. Liz began her career in journalism in 1990 and worked at The Age newspaper for two 10-year stints. She also worked at The Guardian newspaper in London for more than seven years. A former professional tennis player who represented Australia in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Liz has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Letters (Hons).