Former Launceston-based senator, Stephen Parry, racked up more than $61,000 in travel expenditure costs four months before he resigned.
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Parliamentary expenditure details from April to June showed the former Liberal senator billed the taxpayer almost $40,000 for oversees travel, almost $10,000 in travel allowances, and more than $11,000 for domestic airfares.
Out of all Tasmania’s federal politicians, he billed the most in family travels costs at more than $5000.
This all came on top of more than $25,000 spent on travel for the first three months of this year.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent much more on overseas travel than Mr Parry between April and June, with a bill of $165,174, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop spent marginally more with a tab of $47,019.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim had the highest office costs at $97,373 for the three month period, and $19,728 in employee costs.
Mr Parry had the highest employee costs for the period at $61,241, owing to his status as former Senate president. Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie has the next highest employee costs at $40,747, followed by Liberal Senator David Bushby ($38,274).
All state MHRs and senators collectively claimed $149,382 in travel allowances. Travel allowances cover the cost of accommodation, meals, and incidentals for each overnight stay other than a politician’s home base, and are generally used in sitting weeks in Canberra.
As for overseas travel, payments are made for official visits, parliamentary delegations, or when representing Australia or a minister.
Accommodation, meals, employee costs and costs of accompanying spouses or defacto partners are also covered.