Aussie Open, AFL Grand Final grab Albanese’s fancy

by Elizabeth Minter | Aug 14, 2020 | Dubious Travel Claims, Labor, QED

Dubious Travel Claims | Labor | QED

Fan of AFL, Tennis

Aussie Open, AFL Grand Final grab Albanese’s fancy

2014

Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s two-day trip to the Australian Open cost taxpayers more than $2000.

Anthony Albanese flew to Melbourne on January 23, 2014, the same day he went to the Australian Open to watch some tennis, and returned to Sydney the next day at a cost to taxpayers of $1,201 for the two flights. He also claimed $374 in travel allowance for the day and nearly $600 in Comcars.

When questioned by a Guardian Australia journalist, his office reportedly did not respond to a request for comment. Yet as set out by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority: MPs “must be prepared to publicly justify your use of public resources”.

Albanese also flew from Sydney to Melbourne on the day of the 2014 AFL grand final and back the next day at a cost of $1,117. He also claimed a travel allowance of $377 and held a press conference on the afternoon of the game. He also appeared on the Bolt Report the day after the game. The cost to taxpayers of his Comcar use over the two days was just under $340.

What's a rort?

Conflicts of Interest

Redirecting funding to pet hobbies; offering jobs to the boys without a proper tender process; secretly bankrolling candidates in elections; taking up private sector jobs in apparent breach of parliament’s code of ethics, the list goes on.

Deceptive Conduct

Claiming that greenhouse gas emissions have gone down when the facts clearly show otherwise; breaking the law on responding to FoI requests; reneging on promised legislation; claiming credit for legislation that doesn’t exist; accepting donations that breach rules. You get the drift of what behaviour this category captures.

Election Rorts

In the months before the last election, the Government spent hundreds of millions of dollars of Australian taxpayers’ money on grants for sports, community safety, rural development programs and more. Many of these grants were disproportionally awarded to marginal seats, with limited oversight and even less accountability.

Dubious Travel Claims

Ministerial business that just happens to coincide with a grand final or a concert; electorate business that must be conducted in prime tourist locations, or at the same time as party fundraisers. All above board, maybe, but does it really pass the pub test? Or does it just reinforce the fact that politicians take the public for mugs?

Aussie Open, AFL Grand Final grab Albanese’s fancy

Aussie Open, AFL Grand Final grab Albanese’s fancy

What's a rort?

Conflicts of Interest

Deceptive Conduct

Election Rorts

Dubious Travel Claims

Thank you!

Thank you!

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