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Sussan Ley bought $795,000 flat on impulse on taxpayer-funded trip Sussan Ley bought $795,000 flat on impulse on taxpayer-funded trip
(35 minutes later)
Health minister Sussan Ley said she had “not planned nor anticipated” to buy a $795,000 apartment on a taxpayer-funded trip to the Gold Coast.Health minister Sussan Ley said she had “not planned nor anticipated” to buy a $795,000 apartment on a taxpayer-funded trip to the Gold Coast.
Ley billed taxpayers $370 in travel allowances to stay the night with her partner, on the same day she bought the unit, News Corp reported. Government documents show Ley travelled from Sydney to Brisbane on 9 May 2015, where she announced at Wesley Hospital $1.3bn in funding to list new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Ley was required in Queensland for “ministerial business” on Saturday 9 May 2015, according to a statement provided to Guardian Australia. A spokeswoman for Ley said the official duties included an event at Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, where she announced $1.3bn to add medicines to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. She travelled to Main Beach on the Gold Coast the same day, and bought a rental property. She and her partner then stayed the night, billing taxpayers $370 for travel allowance.
Ley then travelled to the Gold Coast to meet stakeholders, her spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ley said the minister had meetings on the Gold Coast with patients about access to new medicines, but did not say who they were.
“On the Gold Coast later that day, Minister Ley also had meetings with local health stakeholders, those being patients about access to new medicines,” the spokeswoman said. “The property purchase was not planned nor anticipated.” “The property purchase was not planned nor anticipated,” the spokeswoman said in a statement to Guardian Australia.
Ley’s partner was with her at the time, but the spokeswoman said his travel was within the rules. “Minister Ley’s partner was invited to accompany her to a function in Sydney on the Friday evening. He then travelled with the Minister to Queensland under family travel arrangements.
“Minister Ley’s partner was invited to accompany her to a function in Sydney on the Friday evening,” the spokeswoman said. “The EMB (Entitlements Management Branch) was consulted at the time to confirm Ms Ley’s partner’s travel was within the rules.
“He then travelled with the minister to Queensland under family travel arrangements. The EMB (Entitlements Management Branch) was consulted at the time to confirm Ms Ley’s partner’s travel was within the rules.
“All travel undertaken was in accordance with the rules.”“All travel undertaken was in accordance with the rules.”
The couple claimed almost $4,000 in flights between Albury, Sydney and Brisbane over 48 hours, News Corp reported. The couple claimed almost $4,000 in flights between Albury, Sydney and Brisbane over 48 hours, government documents show.
The ministerial code of conduct prohibits the use of public office for private purposes.The ministerial code of conduct prohibits the use of public office for private purposes.
Liberal frontbencher Greg Hunt defended his colleague on Friday. “I do know that Sussan is generally one of the most extraordinarily scrupulous ministers with her personal behaviour,” Hunt told 2GB Radio.
Government documents show Ley has one residential property and three rental properties.