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Attorney-general George Brandis pays back $1,700 in parliamentary expenses Attorney general George Brandis pays back $1,700 in parliamentary expenses
(about 3 hours later)
The attorney-general, George Brandis, has paid back almost $1,700 claimed in parliamentary expenses to go to the wedding of a radio presenter. The attorney general, George Brandis, has paid back almost $1,700 claimed in parliamentary expenses to go to the wedding of a radio presenter.
Senator Brandis said although he believed the function was work related, there was "uncertainty" about the entitlement. Brandis said although he believed the function was work-related, there was "uncertainty" about the entitlement.
Senator Brandis and his Coalition colleague Barnaby Joyce have come under fire for allegedly claiming $3,000 between them to attend the 2011 wedding of friend and former 2UE broadcaster Michael Smith, which was held at a hotel owned by John Singleton on the NSW Central Coast. Brandis and his Coalition colleague Barnaby Joyce have come under fire for allegedly claiming $3,000 between them to attend the 2011 wedding of friend and former 2UE broadcaster Michael Smith, which was held at a hotel owned by John Singleton on the NSW central coast.
Senator Brandis had told Fairfax his attendance was "primarily professional", because Smith had been covering scandals involving the then prime minister Julia Gillard and Craig Thomson. Brandis had told Fairfax his attendance was "primarily professional", because Smith had been covering scandals involving the then prime minister Julia Gillard and Craig Thomson.
But in a subsequent letter to the Department of Finance he enclosed a cheque for $1,683.06, saying while he considered that they were within parliamentary entitlements, he wanted to "resolve any uncertainty in favour of the taxpayer".But in a subsequent letter to the Department of Finance he enclosed a cheque for $1,683.06, saying while he considered that they were within parliamentary entitlements, he wanted to "resolve any uncertainty in favour of the taxpayer".
"I considered that those costs were within parliamentary entitlements, since they were incurred in the course of attendance at a function primarily for work-related purposes. I remain of that view," he wrote in the letter on Sunday."I considered that those costs were within parliamentary entitlements, since they were incurred in the course of attendance at a function primarily for work-related purposes. I remain of that view," he wrote in the letter on Sunday.
"It is clear that the relevant criterion is the purpose of the travel, not the nature of the event."It is clear that the relevant criterion is the purpose of the travel, not the nature of the event.
"However, I accept there can be uncertainty about the circumstances in which attendance at a private function for work-related purposes is within the entitlement.""However, I accept there can be uncertainty about the circumstances in which attendance at a private function for work-related purposes is within the entitlement."
Joyce, the minister for agriculture, rejected the claims made in the report. He said he may have claimed the use of a Commonwealth car but not flights or accommodation.Joyce, the minister for agriculture, rejected the claims made in the report. He said he may have claimed the use of a Commonwealth car but not flights or accommodation.
"The only thing I can see in this, and it was two years ago, was the use of a Comcar on the same day as the wedding," Mr Joyce told ABC TV."The only thing I can see in this, and it was two years ago, was the use of a Comcar on the same day as the wedding," Mr Joyce told ABC TV.
"I will now dig back and do what I can to find out about that and if there's some ambiguity I'll pay it back, but the idea I claimed thousands of dollars is just wrong.""I will now dig back and do what I can to find out about that and if there's some ambiguity I'll pay it back, but the idea I claimed thousands of dollars is just wrong."
Labor leadership candidate Bill Shorten has called for an investigation into the matter, and noted the irony of the allegations against Senator Brandis. The Labor leadership candidate Bill Shorten has called for an investigation into the matter, and noted the irony of the allegations against Brandis.
He said the attorney-general had been one the Coalition's "lead attack dogs" against former speaker, Peter Slipper, who is facing fraud charges over claims he abused his parliamentary expenses. He said the attorney general had been one the Coalition's "lead attack dogs" against the former speaker Peter Slipper, who is facing fraud charges over claims he abused his parliamentary expenses.
"It is not normal to say that the reason why you get the taxpayer to support you to go to a wedding is so that you can network with journalists," Shorten told ABC TV."It is not normal to say that the reason why you get the taxpayer to support you to go to a wedding is so that you can network with journalists," Shorten told ABC TV.
"I just wonder what George Brandis would say if it had been a Labor person."I just wonder what George Brandis would say if it had been a Labor person.
"I just wonder if he'd call for a police investigation. Would he expect the same standard to be applied to him, if he had called for a parliamentary investigation?"I just wonder if he'd call for a police investigation. Would he expect the same standard to be applied to him, if he had called for a parliamentary investigation?
"It is most unusual that you just go to a shock jock's wedding, who's got political views close to your own, and then we read reports in the media that all of us a paying for it.""It is most unusual that you just go to a shock jock's wedding, who's got political views close to your own, and then we read reports in the media that all of us a paying for it."
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann defended his Coalition colleagues, saying both had believed the claims were within their parliamentary entitlements. The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, defended his Coalition colleagues, saying both had believed the claims were within their parliamentary entitlements.
"Claims that are made by politicians in terms of any type of public allowance need to be made with entitlement," Cormann told Network Ten."Claims that are made by politicians in terms of any type of public allowance need to be made with entitlement," Cormann told Network Ten.
"At the time, the judgment was that it was. If there is change to this I'm sure that this will be worked through in the appropriate way, in the appropriate process, and if there are conflicts along the way, I'm sure they will be dealt with in the appropriate way as well.""At the time, the judgment was that it was. If there is change to this I'm sure that this will be worked through in the appropriate way, in the appropriate process, and if there are conflicts along the way, I'm sure they will be dealt with in the appropriate way as well."
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