Published assurance reviews

IPEA conducted an Assurance review examining parliamentarians’ travel using parliamentary business resources to, from or around Melbourne between 11 January to 8 February 2024, with a focus on travel associated with the Australian Open. A Preliminary Assessment found that 8 parliamentarians (Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, The Hon Anika Wells MP, The Hon Mark Butler MP, Senator the Hon Don Farrell) had used parliamentary business resources for travel within the scope of this review. Following correspondence with the parliamentarians and having considered the available information, IPEA was satisfied that the use of parliamentary business resources by all 8 parliamentarians was consistent with the legislative framework.

This assurance review assessed the use of Commonwealth-funded travel for 7 parliamentarians and 16 of their staff, travelling to the Northern Territory for the Garma Festival in August 2023. The festival was sponsored by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). Some travel-related expenses were covered for guests officially invited by the NIAA. Six of the 7 parliamentarians identified in this Assurance Review attended the festival as officially-invited guests, sponsored by the NIAA. IPEA found that the expenses claimed by parliamentarians and their staff, with one exception, were consistent with the Parliamentary Business Resources Framework and the Commonwealth-funded Staff Travel Framework. No expenses were claimed under the Parliamentary Business Resources or Commonwealth-funded Staff Travel Framework that duplicated the expenses already covered by the NIAA-sponsored Garma Festival tickets. A staff member of one parliamentarian voluntarily contacted IPEA to identify that the travel allowance rate claimed by the parliamentarian had been incorrect and requested an invoice for repayment to align with the correct amount. The parliamentarian has repaid the invoice.

This Assurance Review assessed the use of Commonwealth-funded travel and motor vehicle allowance claimed by a staff member from the office of Senator Jacqui Lambie.  The claims made were for travel between the staff member’s official home work base and Senator Lambie’s electoral office in Burnie, Tasmania, between July 2023 and May 2024 ,totalling $27,696.  In response to IPEA’s enquiries, Senator Lambie confirmed on 5 July 2024 that she had directed the staff member’s travel and deemed it necessary for the appropriate staffing of her office. On 8 July 2024, IPEA accepted Senator Lambie’s response and closed the matter by reminding Senator Lambie of the conditions and expected arrangements outlined in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Staff Work Base policy in cases of approval of use of a home work base for parliamentary staff.

This Assurance Review assessed whether parliamentarian travel to, from and within Melbourne and Sydney during the Spring Racing Carnival 2022, held between 15 October and 12 November 2022, was undertaken in accordance with the legislative framework. IPEA contacted 16 parliamentarians (Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Senator Pauline Hanson, Mr Peter Khalil MP, Hon David Littleproud MP, Hon Kristy McBain MP, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, Senator James Paterson, Mr Dan Repacholi MP, Hon Stuart Robert, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Ms Susan Templeman MP, Senator Tammy Tyrrell, Hon Anika Wells MP) in relation to their travel to Sydney and Melbourne for the relevant period. Based on the information available to IPEA, including responses provided by parliamentarians, the travel of 14 parliamentarians did not require further investigation. Two parliamentarians requested invoices for associated expenses. An invoice of $87.53 was issued to Minister O’Connor’s office and an invoice of $64.66 was issued to Senator Tyrrell’s office. The invoices, which included a 25% penalty loading, have been repaid in full.

IPEA conducted an Assurance Review in relation to Commonwealth-funded travel for a staff member from the office of Ms Dai Le MP. IPEA assessed all Commonwealth-funded travel claimed over the period in scope. Following engagement with Ms Le and the staff member, IPEA found that the staff member’s use of hire cars in Sydney and Canberra, and the use of Cabcharge to travel to and from work was not consistent with the provisions of the legislative framework. An invoice for 20 transactions, a total of $2,970.34, was raised and provided to the staff member for payment on 20 December 2023. IPEA also found that the staff members use of business class airfares was not consistent with the provisions of the legislative framework. An invoice for the difference between the 14 economy and business class airfares, a total of $2,932.28, was raised and provided to the staff member for payment on 20 December 2023. Further, Ms Le advised that she did not direct the staff member to use 4 travel expenses, one hire car and 3 Cabcharge transactions. An invoice for the 4 transactions, a total of $1,728.82, was raised and provided to the staff member for payment on 20 December 2023.

This Assurance Review of the use of parliamentary expenses by Ms Ware and one staff member between 1 April and 30 June 2023 was conducted as part of a review of the use of travel-related expenses of new parliamentarians. Ms Ware used parliamentary business resources to travel to Canberra on two occasions when parliament was not sitting and Ms Ware’s staff used car transport to and from parliament house during this period. 

Considering the available information, including responses from Ms Ware, IPEA concluded the dominant purpose of Ms Ware’s travel was parliamentary business. IPEA found the use of car transport by the staff while carrying luggage was consistent with the legislative framework. For seven transactions, IPEA concluded the use of car transport was not consistent with the legislative framework the staff member was invoiced $95.91 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoice has been paid in full 

This Assurance review identified numerous trips using taxi and regulated ridesharing services by a staff member of the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite that were not consistent with the requirement for staff to transport themselves to and from work for their normal hours of duty. The staff member was invoiced a total of $1,292.57 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoices have been paid in full. 

This Assurance review identified numerous trips using taxi and regulated ridesharing services by two staff members of Ms Tracey Roberts that were not consistent with the requirement for staff to transport themselves to and from work for their normal hours of duty. The staff members were invoiced a total of $1,434.54 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoices have been paid in full. 

IPEA conducted an Assurance Review in relation to adjustments to travel allowance claimed by a staff member from the office of the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP. The review assessed all adjustments claimed over the period 18 July 2022 to 12 April 2023. Following engagement with the Assistant Minister and the staff member, IPEA has concluded that the staff member’s adjustments to travel allowance were claimed in accordance with the provisions of the legislative framework. 

This Assurance Review of the use of parliamentary expenses by Senator Ross Cadell and two of his staff between 1 April and 30 June 2023 was conducted as part of a review of the use of travel-related expenses of new parliamentarians. Senator Cadell used parliamentary business resources to travel to Bathurst, Tamworth, Darwin and the Gold Coast and Senator Cadell’s staff members used parliamentary business resources to travel to Melbourne and Brisbane during this period. 
Considering all the available information, including responses from Senator Cadell, IPEA concluded that the dominant purpose of Senator Cadell’s travel during the period in scope was parliamentary business and that the staff travel was in accordance with the legislative framework.