What’s Changed for Taxpayer-Funded Travel for Australian MPs?

The move comes amid scrutiny late last year of several MPs spending thousands on travel for family members to official events.

Minister for Communications Anika Wells at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Dec. 3, 2025. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australia’s Remuneration Tribunal has revised parliamentary travel rules after months of public scrutiny over taxpayer-funded travel.

Family members and spouses will no longer be allowed to fly business class at public expense. All family-related travel must now be booked in economy class, with spousal travel limited to three return fares per year.

Australia-wide family reunion travel outside Canberra has also been reduced to one return trip per year, with the cost deducted from an MP’s annual travel budget. MPs will be required to consult the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) before booking those flights.

In a statement (pdf) released on Jan. 20, the tribunal said it had weighed removing Australia-wide family reunions but decided to retain a limited entitlement, noting that parliamentary duties are “not exclusively” carried out in Canberra.

However, MPs will continue to be permitted to have family members join them in Canberra without restriction.

The tribunal has not nominated a fixed start date for the changes but said it expects them to be implemented “as soon as practicable.”

Impact on Families

For MPs with infants or young children, the tribunal acknowledged the changes would reduce support in some cases but said the impact would be offset by earlier reforms.

Those reforms, recommended in 2022, expanded accompanying infant and carer entitlements to all parents of children up to six years of age.

“The Tribunal also notes that the Special Minister of State retains the capacity to make exceptional circumstance determinations which may provide additional resources to members,” it said.

Spouses at Events

Ministers and senior office holders will still be able to use public funds to bring their spouses to official, portfolio-related events—provided the spouse receives a formal invitation.

That entitlement has now been capped at three return economy airfares per year, and the event must be directly connected to the minister’s portfolio or official duties.

The tribunal said the limits were designed to curb excessive spending while recognising that “parliamentary life is not family friendly,” noting that MPs are often required to live interstate for long periods.

Why the Rules Changed

The review was initiated after Sports Minister Anika Wells faced scrutiny for spending $8,500 over three years on family flights to Melbourne during AFL grand final weekends, along with thousands more on travel linked to the Formula One, cricket, and tennis events.

She also charged taxpayers nearly $3,000 for a family trip to Thredbo in July, where she attended an event organised by Paralympics Australia.

Wells has maintained all claims complied with existing rules but referred herself to the IPEA for an audit, which is ongoing.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland was also criticised for billing $21,685 for a family trip to Western Australia, and was directed to repay some expenses after the IPEA found part of the claim breached guidelines.

Trade Minister Don Farrell similarly faced questions over $9,000 in family travel costs linked to sporting events.

While senior Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has also come under scrutiny following reports she spent nearly $50,000 in public funds to cover her husband’s travel over three years.

On Dec. 22, 2025, Special Minister of State Don Farrell and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher formally asked the tribunal to examine whether changes were needed to the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017.

Limited Use, Tight Oversight

The Remuneration Tribunal said its review found Australia-wide family reunion travel was used in an “appropriate and modest” way by most MPs.

Of the 226 federal parliamentarians, 194 did not claim any Australia-wide reunion travel during the 2024–25 financial year.

It also found both Australia-wide fares and the budget for travel to Canberra and the local area amounted to 11 percent during 2024–25.

The tribunal also noted MPs based outside Canberra typically spend around a quarter of each year in Canberra.

It also considered the importance of maintaining conditions that allow people from diverse backgrounds to serve in parliament, within a principles-based system that relies on MPs exercising judgement.