Communications Minister Anika Wells has apologised for four trips she took at the taxpayers expense that were against the rules and repaid the cost of the travel, months after being embroiled in a scandal over thousands of dollars of travel expenses.
In a statement released on Friday morning, Wells said: “These were four cases where I chose what I thought was the more sensible, cheaper option, but those choices were not allowed according to the rules, which I accept and respect.
“I accept [Independent Parliamentary Expensees Authority] assessment and I am sorry for making these honest mistakes. I have repaid the money with a penalty loading,” Wells said.
The statement did not specify which trips she had taken that contravened travel rules, or how much money she had repaid.
The minister was embroiled in an ongoing scandal last December after revelations she spent $190,000 on a trip to New York to spruik the government’s social media ban, and flew her husband to three AFL grand finals at a cost of $9000 to the taxpayer. Wells is also the federal sports minister.
Wells has been noticeably absent from major sporting events since the scandal broke.
More to come.
Read more on Wells’ expenses
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Nick Newling is a federal politics reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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