Peter Dutton named in expenses scandal
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has reportedly become the latest political figure caught up in the travel entitlements scandal.
Mr Dutton spent over $7000 last year flying his family to Cairns in business class, News Corp reported on Monday.
His wife and three children were reportedly flown from Brisbane to Cairns to meet him in July last year for a three-day trip which cost $7210.
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This money included flights, car hire and accommodation.
News Corp said it sourced the figures from documents provided by the Department of Finance.
Mr Dutton’s spokesman said he had “numerous” commitments while in Cairns on that trip.
The allegations came as politicians returned to parliament on Monday for the first time since the scandal broke.
MPs have been engulfed in the saga of extravagant expense claims since it was found former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop charged taxpayers $5000 to hire a helicopter to attend a party function.
Treasurer Joe Hockey, Education Minister Christopher Pyne and Labor frontbenchers Tony Burke and Brendan O’Connor are among a number of politicians who have had their expenses questioned because they used taxpayers’ money to fund family travel.
Since the scandal broke, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has set up an independent “root and branch” inquiry into politicians’ entitlements.