Published assurance reviews

IPEA conducted a routine post payment check of parliamentarian’s use of unscheduled commercial ground transport (UCGT). IPEA’s post payment check identified that Senator Raff Ciccone used parliamentary work resources to travel by regulated rideshare on 15 October 2025 in Melbourne. The legislative framework precludes the use of UCGT if the parliamentarian could reasonably have used their private-plated vehicle or the allowance in lieu of a private-plated vehicle. Based on Senator Ciccone’s advice, IPEA noted that it was not reasonable for Senator Ciccone to use his private plated vehicle or allowance in lieu for the travel. IPEA found that Senator Ciccone’s use of travel resources by unscheduled commercial ground transport was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

This assurance review assessed the use of travel resources by a staff member of the former Senator Gerard Rennick, to transport themselves to and from work in Canberra by taxi for their normal hours of duty. IPEA found that the use of staff travel resources was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

IPEA undertook an Assurance Review of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's travel to Melbourne 15-17 August 2024. IPEA found that the use of travel resources in Canberra on 15 August 2024 was not consistent with the legislative framework.  Senator Nampijinpa Price was invoiced a total of $387.50 to recover the costs of her travel allowance in Canberra on 15 August 2024, including a 25% penalty loading under section 38 of the PBR Act. The expenses have been repaid. 

IPEA undertook an Assurance Review of travel undertaken by a former staff member in Senator Payman's office between 11 August 2024 and 14 March 2025. IPEA found that the staff member’s use of staff travel resources was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Hon Linda Reynolds CSC’s use of parliamentarians’ travel and work resources for family reunion purposes in May and June 2025. IPEA found that:

• The use of family reunion travel resources for Ms Reynolds’ nominee to travel from Perth to Melbourne on 9 May 2025, 30 May 2025 and 21 June 2025 was not consistent with the legislative framework. IPEA has concluded that Ms Reynolds contravened section 28 of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 (PBR Act).
• The use of family reunion travel resources for Ms Reynolds’ nominee to travel to Canberra on 11 May 2025, 1 June 2025, and 23 June 2025 was consistent with the legislative framework.

Ms Reynolds has been invoiced a total of $8,778.01 to recover the cost of COMCAR travel and airfares for her nominee for the specified travel, including a 25% penalty loading under Section 38 of the PBR Act. The invoices have been repaid in full.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Senator Ralph Babet’s use of work resources for travel to Adelaide from 7 to 10 July 2023. IPEA found that the use of work resources was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Ms Louise Miller Frost MP’s use of parliamentarians’ travel and work resources for family reunion purposes between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. IPEA found that:

• The use of travel resources for Ms Miller Frost’s and her spouse’s flights from Adelaide to Perth on 26 January 2023 was not consistent with the legislative framework.
• The use of travel resources for Ms Miller Frost’s and her spouse’s travel to Albany and Perth between 29 January and 1 February 2023 was consistent with the legislative framework.

Ms Miller-Frost was invoiced a total of $4,183.10 to recover the cost of airfares for herself and her spouse for the specified travel, including a 25% penalty loading under section 38 of the PBR Act. The invoice has been repaid in full.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Ms Meryl Swanson MP’s use of parliamentarians’ travel and work resources for family reunion purposes between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. IPEA found that:

• The use of family reunion travel resources to travel to Queensland on 14 January 2023 and return to Newcastle on 15 January 2023 was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.
• The use of family reunion travel resources to travel to Melbourne on 30 October 2022 was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.
• The use of family reunion travel resources to travel to the Sunshine Coast on 31 October 2022 was not consistent with the legislative framework.

Ms Swanson was invoiced a total of $1,016.58 to recover the cost of airfares for herself and her spouse (including a 25% penalty loading). The invoice has been repaid in full.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Dr Anne Webster’s MP’s use of parliamentarians’ travel and work resources for family reunion purposes between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. IPEA found that Dr Anne Webster’s use of family reunion travel resources for two of the trips was consistent with the legislative framework, with one trip undertaken that was not consistent with the legislative framework.

Dr Webster was invoiced $2265.40, including a 25% penalty loading to repay the incorrectly used family reunion travel resources. The expenses have been repaid.

IPEA conducted an assurance review of Mrs Melissa McIntosh’s MP’s use of parliamentarians’ travel and work resources for family reunion purposes between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. IPEA found that the use of family reunion travel resources was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.