Scott Buchholz’ $1,700 claim for Sydney Harbour cruise
November 21, 2018
Liberal MP Scott Buchholz charged taxpayers more than $1700 to cruise Sydney Harbour with his partner aboard a luxury vessel chartered by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The assistant minister for road safety and freight transport, was a guest of Ms Rinehart at the National Agriculture and Related Industries Day Gala Dinner. The cocktail function was held on board the palatial Starship Sydney, billed as the largest glass cruising vessel on the harbour, which seats 350 guests for a sit-down black-tie dinner.
According to the Nine newspapers, expense records show taxpayers paid $449 for Mr Buchholz’s hotel in Sydney, plus $393.31 for his flight from Canberra to Sydney and $172.59 for his flight to Brisbane the next day.
They also covered his partner’s flight from Rockhampton to Sydney via Brisbane at a cost of $355.08, as well as $338 for Mr Buchholz’s Commonwealth car while in Sydney.
Mr Buchholz said he was invited to the function in his capacity as assistant roads minister in order to “engage with industry stakeholders on matters related to my portfolio”.
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).