Senior Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is under scrutiny following reports that she spent nearly $50,000 (US$33,300) in public funds to cover her husband’s travel expenses over the past three years.
According to an analysis of parliamentary expense records by The Australian, Hanson-Young claimed $49,902 for 78 family-member trips between Canberra and Adelaide since July 2022.
While federal MPs and senators are allowed to claim travel costs for a nominated family member using taxpayer funds, there are limits on the amount they can be reimbursed annually.
For Australia-wide travel, the cost is limited to three return business-class airfares in total.
Absent from Media Program After Allegation Emerges
After the allegation about her husband’s travel claims emerged, Hanson-Young, a frequent guest on Sky News Australia, did not appear on the program.
Nationals leader Kevin Hogan, who had been scheduled to debate her, said he was disappointed that Hanson-Young did not show up to defend herself.
“We can take family with us if it is a reunion with them, but if he’s going to Canberra to earn money to actually fund his own financial well-being, I don’t think that’s in the spirit of this,” he told Sky News Australia on Dec. 11.
“That’s what we’ve seen with a number of these things, I think the family reunion availability with MPs is good, but a lot of people are taking the lend of it.
“It is unfortunate that Sarah’s not here today, this is an allegation, she would be able to defend it—if it is defensible.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to Hanson-Young’s office for comment.
Coalition Demands Answers
Shadow Special Minister of State James McGrath said Hanson-Young must publicly address the concerns.“Senator Hanson-Young needs to come out of witness protection and front the media today to answer these questions,” the Liberal Senator told The Australian.
“These revelations are incredibly concerning. If Senator Hanson-Young has been charging the taxpayers of Australia to essentially bankroll her husband’s lobbying activities in Canberra, then we have a major issue here, and she should be repaying the cost immediately.”
Hanson-Young’s allegation adds a new dimension to the ongoing controversy over the high travel expenses claimed by MPs, government officials and their families.
Government Stands by Existing Rules
Meanwhile, Albanese has continued to defend the framework, saying that the legislation governing family travel was introduced under the former Coalition government and was “adopted unanimously in the parliament.”“We will always, of course, examine. We’re aware that issues are there and that taxpayers have a right to expect value for money,” he told reporters on Dec. 11.
When asked whether ministers and senior bureaucrats should shift to economy flights under three hours—a review finding that could save taxpayers $4 million a year—Albanese said he had not read the report yet.
“But certainly people should look for value for money at all times,” he added.
