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Australian federal police 'not currently investigating' MP travel expense claims Australian federal police 'not currently investigating' MP travel expense claims
(about 4 hours later)
The Australian federal police says it is not currently investigating travel claims from parliamentarians despite a specific referral from Labor MP Rob Mitchell and a number of complaints from the public. The Australian federal police says it is not currently investigating travel claims from parliamentarians despite a specific referral from the Labor MP Rob Mitchell and a number of complaints from the public.
The AFP says it has referred the issues raised by Mitchell and others to the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for parliamentary entitlements. “The AFP is not currently investigating these allegations,” an AFP spokesperson said.The AFP says it has referred the issues raised by Mitchell and others to the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for parliamentary entitlements. “The AFP is not currently investigating these allegations,” an AFP spokesperson said.
The AFP’s statement came as West Australian Liberal Don Randall repaid more than $5,000 in entitlements claimed for a trip to Cairns, travel which appeared to coincide with his purchase of an investment property. The AFP’s statement came as the West Australian Liberal Don Randall repaid more than $5,000 in entitlements claimed for a trip to Cairns, travel which appeared to coincide with his purchase of an investment property.
After first declining to explain the trip, beyond the fact that it was electoral business, Randall on Thursday night issued a statement confirming that he would repay the claim.After first declining to explain the trip, beyond the fact that it was electoral business, Randall on Thursday night issued a statement confirming that he would repay the claim.
The MP said he had sought advice from the Department of Finance as to whether the payment was within the guidelines, and the department could not say definitively whether it was. He would therefore repay the expenses.The MP said he had sought advice from the Department of Finance as to whether the payment was within the guidelines, and the department could not say definitively whether it was. He would therefore repay the expenses.
Labor has twice signaled it would provide bipartisan support should the prime minister want to have an inquiry into the entitlements system, or pursue any clarification of the current guidelines. Labor has twice signalled it would provide bipartisan support should the prime minister want to have an inquiry into the entitlements system, or pursue any clarification of the current guidelines.
The government has thus far dug in, Tony Abbott arguing there will always be grey areas when it comes to expense claims. The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, repeated that offer on Friday. At a press conference in Canberra, Shorten said Labor wasn’t inclined to pursue a “lynch mob” approach on the question of entitlements – it was looking to be constructive.
Victorian Labor MP Rob Mitchell wrote on Thursday to the AFP requesting a formal investigation into the misuse of parliamentary entitlements by the prime minister and the attorney general, George Brandis. Shorten said the community was concerned about how parliamentarians used their expenses and entitlements, and he said Tony Abbott had an obligation to explain to voters whether or not he had “confidence in his members”.
But the government has thus far dug in, Tony Abbott arguing there will always be grey areas when it comes to expense claims.
The Victorian Labor MP Rob Mitchell wrote on Thursday to the AFP requesting a formal investigation into the misuse of parliamentary entitlements by the prime minister and the attorney general, George Brandis.
Mitchell’s complaint related to claims for weddings and for charity events.Mitchell’s complaint related to claims for weddings and for charity events.
Mitchell implicitly raised the contrast between the vigorous pursuit of former House of Representatives speaker Peter Slipper and the repayments of expense claims made by Abbott and Brandis under the Minchin protocol – an agreement allowing MPs to repay expenses when errors are made. Mitchell implicitly raised the contrast between the vigorous pursuit of the former House of Representatives speaker Peter Slipper and the repayments of expense claims made by Abbott and Brandis under the Minchin protocol – an agreement allowing MPs to repay expenses when errors are made.
Shorten did not answer a reporter’s question on Friday about whether he had advance warning that Mitchell intended to make the referral to the police, or whether he sanctioned that as a course of action.
The opposition leader repeated his preference to be constructive. “I believe the approach I’ve outlined is the way to go,” he said.
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