Australian Communications Minister Repays Over $10,000 in Incorrect Travel Claims

Communications minister Anika Wells has repaid more than $10,000 after an audit identified four incorrect travel claims dating back to the 2022 election. In a statement released on Friday, Wells said the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority audit found mistakes worth a combined $8,092.89.

She repaid a total of $10,116.11, which included a 25 percent penalty. The publicly available audit found no misconduct or ethical breaches. Wells said the errors occurred over four years of travel involving nearly 250 separate trips. She added that in each case she chose what she thought was the more sensible and cheaper option, but those choices were not allowed under the rules.

She accepted the watchdog's decision and apologised for the honest mistakes. Among the breaches was travel by Wells' husband, Finn McCarthy, in February 2022 to collect the couple's child from Canberra after Wells contracted Covid-19. A separate trip in May last year was ruled not to be official parliamentary business.

A return flight by McCarthy after the 2025 AFL grand final was also found to be outside the rules because Wells had flown separately. Wells also repaid some costs for official travel in government cars. Her travel to a United Nations event in New York to promote the government's social media ban for under-16s was found not to have breached the rules.

The audit said she had very limited flight options available at the last minute and had taken due regard to her obligation to ensure value for money.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese defended Wells on Friday during a campaigning stop in Melbourne. He rejected calls for her to resign, saying she had referred herself to the audit, paid back the money in accordance with the rules and apologised. Albanese described Wells as a very good minister doing extraordinary work.

Albanese noted that shadow infrastructure minister Bridget McKenzie had previously been found to have breached travel rules and remained on the opposition frontbench.

Controversy about Wells' use of taxpayer-funded money contributed to changes in politicians' travel rules. In December, Albanese announced new rules stopping family members of federal politicians from flying business class at taxpayers' expense. The changes also restricted most family travel to destinations other than Canberra.

Under the new rules, a spouse or partner of a senior politician can only use taxpayer-funded travel to and from destinations outside Canberra if they are specifically invited to an official event.