The former Liberal minister Bruce Billson failed to declare he was employed and paid a $75,000 salary by a business lobby before he quit parliament.
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Regional Growth Fund follows sport rorts playbook
Of the $248 million in Regional Growth Fund grants awarded just ahead of the 2019 election, Coalition seats snagged $234 million.
Grassgate – Angus Taylor kept mum on personal financial interest
Angus Taylor did not declare his financial interest in a company at a meeting with senior environment officials and the office of the then environment minister, Josh Frydenberg about endangered grasslands.
Christopher Pyne took up EY job 9 days after leaving parliament
Former Liberal defence minister Christopher Pyne discussed defence consulting jobs with EY while he was still in cabinet and took up a job nine days after leaving parliament.
Stuart Robert ‘has a go’ with his $38k internet bill
At the same time Stuart Robert was claiming extraordinarily high internet bills from taxpayers for his Gold Coast home, he was also saying: “There is a small segment of the community who still think it is okay to cheat the system.”
Morrison ditched Turnbull plans for lobbying transparency
One of the Morrison government’s first acts was to kill off Malcolm Turnbull’s plan for greater transparency about how lobbyists interact with the federal government.
Barnaby Joyce’s decision to move pesticides regulator a huge financial risk
Barnaby Joyce pushed for the move of the regulator when he was up against popular independent MP Tony Windsor, against the wishes of all the major stakeholders.
Bridget McKenzie bills public for $20k private jet to ice-hockey game
First it was a $14,000 private jet to watch a Commonwealth Games basketball game to sit with Prince Charles; a month later it was a $20,000 jet to watch the Mustangs ice hockey team in Melbourne.
Julie Bishop digs heels in over $25k shoes
Julie Bishop was given a pair of Jimmy Choo heels thought to be worth as much as $25,000 but breached parliamentary rules requiring her to pay the difference for gifts exceeding $300.
Barnaby Joyce’s debateable use of VIP jet for election bid
Barnaby Joyce spent more than $18,000 of taxpayer funds travelling to Armidale and Tamworth when he was trying to win the lower house seat of New England.
Peter Dutton and the au pairs
Peter Dutton overturned the deportation of three young au pairs but refused to meet an Army veteran trying to obtain a visa for his Afghan interpreter, whose life was in danger for helping coalition forces.
Fiona Nash and the food health ratings website
Then assistant health minister and her chief of staff pulled a food health star rating website. Her chief of staff was previously chair of, and still held shares in, APA, a lobbyist for the Australian Beverages Council and Mondelez Australia.
Stuart Robert listed parents as company directors without their knowledge
Stuart Robert listed his parents as directors of an IT company awarded millions in government contracts including from his department. His father Alan said he was unaware he was a director of the private investment company.
McCormack breaches lobbying code to award $2.6m airport grant
Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack struck a pre-election deal with an unregistered political lobbyist and former Howard Government adviser for a $2.6 million airport upgrade ahead of the launch of the Regional Airports Program.
Cormann, Dutton’s $60,000 domestic RAAF flights
Peter Dutton and Mathias Cormann billed taxpayers $60,000 for RAAF flights to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Scott Morrison following the leadership spill.
The $80m water deal that has provided no water
The $80 million deal, signed off by by then-agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce, had been rejected twice and involved a company that Angus Taylor was once a director of.
Launching QED: The case for a federal ICAC
Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, trust in government had reached its lowest level on record, according to a major study conducted by The Australian National University. Just 25% of Australians said they had confidence in their political leaders and institutions.
Liberal MP charged wedding travel costs to taxpayers ‘in error’
Steve Irons charged taxpayers more than $2000 for flights to his own wedding in Melbourne. The MP said the money had been claimed in error and had been repaid after “a self-audit” of travel expenses.
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop charges $5000 for chopper to fundraiser
The former Liberal speaker chartered a helicopter to travel from Melbourne to Geelong and back to attend a state Liberal Party fundraiser. The journey typically takes an hour each way by road.
PM’s department broke law by delaying FoI request
The privacy watchdog found the PM’s department broke the law by delaying a FoI request about allegations that the former public service commissioner improperly aided the Institute of Public Affairs.
United Australia Party senator bills taxpayers for $10k Broome trip
Brian Burston charged taxpayers more than $10,000 to fly with his wife to Broome in the final days of his term, despite having already lost his Senate seat.
Coalition MPs charge taxpayers $2,500 for trip to 2013 AFL Grand Final
Matthias Cormann, Steve Ciobo and charged taxpayers more than $2,500 for a trip to the AFL grand final in 2013.
Coalition ministers charge taxpayers $4500 for trip to $10,000-a-head fundraiser
Stuart Robert, Dan Tehan and Simon Birmingham charged taxpayers more than $4,500 for an overnight trip to Sydney where they mingled with mining and banking donors at a $10,000-a-head Liberal party fundraiser dinner hosted by Channel Nine.
Tony Burke claims $12,000 from taxpayers for family trip to Uluru
The then environment minister took a four-day return trip to Uluru with his family. Burke subsequently conceded taxpayers should not have been charged for his children to fly business class but he has not repaid the cost.
Julie Bishop: when is a partner not a partner?
Julie Bishop claimed $32,000 from taxpayers for “family” travel by her long-term partner but did not declare his financial interests because she claims he is not her spouse.
Michael McCormack and wife flew on a government jet to attend Melbourne Cup
Deputy PM Michael McCormack and his wife flew to Melbourne on a VIP government jet before the 2019 Melbourne Cup and justified the trip by reannouncing a three-year-old funding pledge for a sports facility.
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