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Biggest-spending MPs revealed in expenses data

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and PM Anthony Albanese were busy overseas after being elected in May 2022.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and PM Anthony Albanese were busy overseas after being elected in May 2022. Photo: Getty

Taxpayers have been slugged almost $700,000 by the Prime Minister over three months, while one MP racked up a surprising foreign travel bill.

Data released by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority shows Anthony Albanese charged the public purse $684,665.31 in total between July and September 2022.

Australians forked out $82,729 for Albanese’s overseas travel, and more than $10,000 on car costs.

The Prime Minister took trips to Japan, Indonesia and Europe soon after winning the election in May 2022, when a number of summits were held.

The nation was charged $2658 for his family to travel, while Albanese’s staff racked up $512,232 on trips.

More than $41,000 was spent on office facilities, more than $30,000 on office administration, more than $3000 on telecommunications and almost $2000 was claimed in travel allowance.

The troubled Parliamentary Expenses Management System is back reporting data after it was suspended late 2022 after a bungled upgrade.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke cost taxpayers the second highest amount at $398,410.

He clocked up $23,420 on international travel, a higher amount than Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who began a blitz of the Pacific.

Senator Wong spent $19,169 on international travel during that period.

The PM spent most on international travel and he was followed by Defence Minister Richard Marles, who spent more than $30,000 on overseas trips.

The third highest spender on international travel was Coalition backbencher Darren Chester, who charged taxpayers more than $26,000.

Chester’s travel costs were for a trip to the US as part of a delegation to the 77th United Nations General Assembly, with accommodation and meals totalling $19,664.

Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres spent the fourth highest amount on international trips, charging almost $26,000. The fifth spot was taken by Burke.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton spent about $363,000 over the three-month period and almost $196,000 in travel expenses for his staff.

Dutton’s family travel cost taxpayers more than $5000, higher than the Prime Minister’s.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley spent almost $55,000 for staff travel, but did not charge Australians anything for travel for family members.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek spent almost $162,000 on her office, the highest amount of all parliamentarians for expenditure on such facilities.

She was closely followed by Ley, who spent almost $161,000, and independent MP Kylea Tink with $159,000.

The five parliamentarians who racked up the highest family travel expenses are all from the Labor Party and Western Australia.

They include Tania Lawrence, Fatima Payman, Zaneta Mascarenhas, Patrick Gorman and Madeleine King.

-AAP

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