Travel records obtained by the Opposition through Freedom of Information requests and the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) have revealed the latest travel bills incurred by the Albanese Government’s gravy plane.
Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Patrick Gorman, billed the taxpayers more than $25,000 to travel to Paris on the inaugural Perth-to-Paris Qantas flight, a few days before the Olympic Games began. Mr Gorman’s presence in the City of Light complemented that of Australia’s Sports Minister, Anika Wells, who separately incurred costs of more than $27,000 to attend the Paris Olympics.
In a sign that the Albanese Government’s culture of lavish expenditure has pervaded the Public Service, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the ACCC also racked up business class travel expenses worth $50,000 for travel to Brazil, and Poland and France respectively.
Opposition waste spokesman, James Stevens, has reiterated his calls for prudence when traveling on the public dime, saying that “public servants should only travel overseas when absolutely necessary, as every time they do, it is the Australian taxpayer who foots the bill.
“Spending $25,000 per person on overseas trips is but a distant dream for everyday Australians struggling through Anthony Albanese’s cost-of-living crisis.
“It is no wonder our bureaucrats have adopted the Albanese Government’s culture of lavish expenditure, when the Assistant Minister for the Public Service billed the taxpayers more than $25,000 to travel to Paris a few days before the Olympics.
“While many Australians can only dream of visiting Paris, they were given no choice but to pay for a junior Minister’s business class travel to the City of Light.
“It seems Patrick Gorman just couldn’t resist a seat on the inaugural Perth-to-Paris Qantas flight. It’s just a shame that struggling Australians can’t afford a ticket on the Albanese Government’s gravy plane,” Mr Stevens said.