Published assurance reviews

This Assurance Review examined Senator Pauline Hanson's use of parliamentary business resources to undertake travel to Hamilton Island, QLD, from 2 to 5 October 2020, and Newcastle, NSW, from 15 to 16 May 2021 and 19 to 26 May 2021. On the basis of Senator Hanson's response, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose of Senator Hanson's travel to Hamilton Island was parliamentary business. Following significant communication with Senator Hanson's office, on the basis of the evidence provided, IPEA accepted the Senator's assertion that her travel to Newcastle was for the dominant purpose of conducting parliamentary business and was not inconsistent with the framework. 

This Assurance Review examined the use of car transport by a member of Senator Pauline Hanson's staff between 26 September 2016 and 30 June 2021. IPEA identified 71 instances in this period where the staff member used car transport at Commonwealth expense that required information from Senator Hanson to confirm consistency with the framework. Following responses from Senator Hanson, detailing each of the relevant trips and her reasons for approving each charge, IPEA sought policy advice from Ministerial and Parliamentary Services within the Department of Finance to determine if the trips were consistent with the framework. On the basis of this policy advice and Senator Hanson's responses, there was no information available to IPEA suggesting the staff member's use of car transport was inconsistent with the framework.

This Assurance Review focussed on Senator Hanson's use of parliamentary business resources to travel to and within Sydney in June 2022. Following contact from IPEA, Senator Hanson stated that the dominant purpose of her travel was parliamentary business as she was required to attend court for a matter related to comments she had made in her capacity as Senator. On the basis of this response, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose was parliamentary business and not inconsistent with the framework.

This Assurance Review examined travel by Senator David Van and his spouse to Prosperine, Brisbane, and Townsville, QLD, between 13 and 21 July 2021. After a meeting with Senator Van and further correspondence, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose of Senator Van's travel was parliamentary business. IPEA raised invoices, with 25% penalty loading, for COMCAR bookings made under the name of Senator Van's spouse that did not meet the Regulations and two instances of incorrectly claimed Travel Allowance. Following the Assurance Review, Senator Van's office sought further education and training. Senator Van subsequently repaid the expenses. 

This Assurance Review focussed on travel and related expenses used by Senator Deborah O'Neill between 13 November 2013 and 24 March 2020. IPEA identified 16 itineraries, and following engagement with Senator O'Neill, IPEA was satisfied that all itineraries were not inconsistent with the respective legislative frameworks in force at the time of travel.

This Assurance Review examined travel by parliamentarians to, from, and within Sydney between 28 September and 4 October 2022 around the time of the NRL Grand Final on 2 October 2022. IPEA identified travel for 67 parliamentarians who accessed parliamentary business resources for travel to, from, and within Sydney in this period. Of these, 32 parliamentarians required further investigation. Media reports confirmed 4 parliamentarians attended the NRL grand final. IPEA is satisfied the travel by these parliamentarians was not inconsistent with the legislative framework. Analysis of the travel by the remaining 28 parliamentarians found that parliamentary business resources were not used to attend the NRL grand final. However travel to, from, and within Sydney by 13 of the 32 parliamentarians assessed required further investigation as part of a separate Assurance Review because their travel pattern raised further questions.

This Assurance Review examined travel using parliamentary business resources by parliamentarians to Queensland between 1 April and 31 July 2021. A Preliminary Assessment identified 5 parliamentarians who accessed business resources to travel to Queensland within the period (Senator the Hon David Fawcett, Mr Craig Kelly MP, The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Senator Jacquie Lambie, and Senator Sam McMahon). IPEA is satisfied that the dominant purpose of travel by Senator Fawcett, Mr Kelly and Mr O'Connor was parliamentary business and was not inconsistent with the legislative framework. Senator Lambie had a travel itinerary that was processed incorrectly; Senator Lambie's office requested that IPEA raise an invoice to amend the error, and it was paid in full. IPEA was unable to confirm whether Senator McMahon's travel was consistent with the legislative framework as no response was received to repeated requests for information. As Senator McMahon did not fulfil the requirements of the Regulations, the Senator was invoiced. As of 14 June 2022, the invoices had not been paid.

This Assurance Review focussed on Mr Craig Kelly’s use of parliamentary business resources In November and December 2021. It followed a number of media articles which reported that Mr Kelly attended protest rallies in Victoria in regard to pandemic laws during that period.  Following a response from Mr Kelly referencing the Private Member’s Bill he introduced to Parliament titled 'NO Domestic Vaccine Passport Bill' and advising he was invited to rallies in his official capacity as a Federal Member of Parliament, IPEA concluded that the dominant purpose of Mr Kelly's travel was parliamentary business and not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

This Assurance Review focussed on the use of Travel Allowance by a parliamentary staff member between 14 July 2020 and 22 August 2021. When this Assurance Review was commenced, the staff member appeared to have spent the most time on duty in Darwin instead of the staff member's approved work base. While this Assurance Review was being conducted, the staff member's employment contract was extended. The staff member did not claim any further TA after the contract extension, and IPEA concluded that this matter did not require further investigation.

All assurance and audit activities 1 July 2020 to 31 January 2022 - FOI reference number #22/08