In the last few years, some MPs have made extravagant claims on their parliamentary entitlements. So, what are they actually allowed to use the money for?
Malcolm Turnbull is to be congratulated for taking action to curb expenses scandals.
AAP/Michael Wade
Malcolm Turnbull is to be congratulated on establishing an independent body to oversee politicians’ expenses, but an independent anti-corruption commission is still needed.
Sussan Ley maintains that her entitlement claims were within the rules.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
It is unclear whether stood-aside minister Sussan Ley has breached the ministerial standards over her travel expenses. And the rules on claiming entitlements are unclear and very complex.
The government plans to axe a supplement for Newstart recipients.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s Kon Karapanagiotidis said that what a politician can claim for a one night stay in Canberra is equivalent to an entire week on Newstart. Is that true?
The review of MPs’ entitlements was instigated following Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation from the speakership.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The opposition has widened its two-party lead over the Coalition in Newspoll as MPs return for a new parliamentary session rocked by voters’ anger over parliamentary entitlements.
A freshly weakened Tony Abbott faces some difficult issues and dangerous flashpoints in the upcoming parliamentary sitting fortnight.
Ben Macmahon/AAP
Memo from Finance Department to minister Mathias Cormann: “Urgently needed – staff reinforcements for the Great Expense Chase”. Just joking. But only a little.
Bronwyn Bishop resigned as Speaker following a controversy that brought the public’s trust in her office into question.
AAP/Daniel Munoz
What can the new Speaker do to restore the Australian public’s faith in the office – and in MPs more broadly – after Bronwyn Bishop’s resignation due to a series of lavish entitlement claims?
Tony Abbott has put the entire system of parliamentary entitlements up for review.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
It would be good if we had a transparent parliamentary entitlements system that generated less political noise. We could avoid the major distractions from serious policy debates.
The scandal surrounding Bronwyn Bishop’s entitlements may not have ended with her resignation as Speaker.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Combined, the nature of the controversy, Bishop’s behaviour as Speaker, and the way she and her party dealt with the issue created the perfect storm for a damaging scandal.
When claiming entitlements, Bronwyn Bishop seems to have had no normal sense of awareness.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
One snippet sums up Bronwyn Bishop’s disconnect with the real world. Her spokesman was quoted at the weekend saying she had often preferred limousines because they could travel in bus lanes, thus getting…
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has resigned from her position after weeks of controversy over her use of entitlements.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The question in the Bronwyn Bishop helicopter hire case is whether she can justify attending the party fundraiser primarily for official business as Speaker.
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop will pay back entitlements for a charter helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong, return.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop has promised to reimburse A$5227 in taxpayers’ money that she spent on a helicopter flight between Melbourne and Geelong to attend a Liberal fundraiser in November.