Published assurance reviews

This Assurance Review of the use of parliamentary expenses by Ms Ware and one staff member between 1 April and 30 June 2023 was conducted as part of a review of the use of travel-related expenses of new parliamentarians. Ms Ware used parliamentary business resources to travel to Canberra on two occasions when parliament was not sitting and Ms Ware’s staff used car transport to and from parliament house during this period. 

Considering the available information, including responses from Ms Ware, IPEA concluded the dominant purpose of Ms Ware’s travel was parliamentary business. IPEA found the use of car transport by the staff while carrying luggage was consistent with the legislative framework. For seven transactions, IPEA concluded the use of car transport was not consistent with the legislative framework the staff member was invoiced $95.91 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoice has been paid in full 

This Assurance review identified numerous trips using taxi and regulated ridesharing services by a staff member of the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite that were not consistent with the requirement for staff to transport themselves to and from work for their normal hours of duty. The staff member was invoiced a total of $1,292.57 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoices have been paid in full. 

This Assurance review identified numerous trips using taxi and regulated ridesharing services by two staff members of Ms Tracey Roberts that were not consistent with the requirement for staff to transport themselves to and from work for their normal hours of duty. The staff members were invoiced a total of $1,434.54 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoices have been paid in full. 

IPEA conducted an Assurance Review in relation to adjustments to travel allowance claimed by a staff member from the office of the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP. The review assessed all adjustments claimed over the period 18 July 2022 to 12 April 2023. Following engagement with the Assistant Minister and the staff member, IPEA has concluded that the staff member’s adjustments to travel allowance were claimed in accordance with the provisions of the legislative framework. 

This Assurance Review of the use of parliamentary expenses by Senator Ross Cadell and two of his staff between 1 April and 30 June 2023 was conducted as part of a review of the use of travel-related expenses of new parliamentarians. Senator Cadell used parliamentary business resources to travel to Bathurst, Tamworth, Darwin and the Gold Coast and Senator Cadell’s staff members used parliamentary business resources to travel to Melbourne and Brisbane during this period. 
Considering all the available information, including responses from Senator Cadell, IPEA concluded that the dominant purpose of Senator Cadell’s travel during the period in scope was parliamentary business and that the staff travel was in accordance with the legislative framework.
 

This Assurance review identified a number of trips using regulated ridesharing services by a staff member of Senator Jonathon Duniam that were not consistent with the requirement for staff to transport themselves to and from work for their normal hours of duty. The staff member was invoiced a total of $499.75 to repay the inappropriate use of resources. The invoice has been paid in full. 

This Assurance Review of the use of parliamentary business resources for travel by Senator David Shoebridge between 1 April and 30 June 2023, was conducted as part of a review of travel-related expenses by new parliamentarians. Senator Shoebridge used parliamentary business resources to travel to Melbourne, Albury, Perth and the Gold Coast during this period. 
Considering all the available information, including responses from Senator Shoebridge, IPEA concluded that parliamentary business was the dominant purpose of all travel undertaken by Senator Shoebridge during the period in scope and that the travel was in accordance with the legislative framework. 

This Assurance review identified a total of 4 trips to and from Parliament House that were undertaken by a staff member of Senator Askew using parliamentary business resources that were inconsistent with the legislative framework. The staff member was invoiced a total of $93.87 to reimburse the inappropriate use of resources. The invoice has been repaid in full.

This Assurance Review of the use of these expenses by Dan Repacholi MP between 1 April and 30 June 2023 was conducted as part of a review of travel-related expenses by new parliamentarians. Mr Repacholi used parliamentary business resources to travel to Melbourne on 2 occasions during this period, and was asked to confirm the dominant purpose of this travel. Considering the response by Mr Repacholi and other available information, IPEA concluded that parliamentary business was the dominant purpose of all travel undertaken by Mr Repacholi during the period in scope, and the use of parliamentary business resources was consistent with the legislative framework.

This  Assurance Review of use of parliamentary business resources for car transport in Canberra between 13 June and 14 September 2023 by a staff member in Mr Rowan Ramsey’s office concluded the staff member was directed to use car transport to travel to and from Parliament House by the employing parliamentarian, but the use of car transport was not consistent with the legislative framework. IPEA raised an invoice for $281.26 to recover these expenses, which has been paid in full.