Published assurance reviews

This Assurance Review focussed on international travel by parliamentarians and their families between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022. Available information indicated 17 parliamentarians undertook international travel within this period, with no expenses incurred by family members. Of these, 5 parliamentarians were randomly selected for further assessment, and all travel was assessed as being not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

This Assurance Review examined the Hon Amanda Stoker's use of travel resources to travel to, from, and within Melbourne, between 11 and 13 February 2022. Following correspondence with Ms Stoker, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose of her travel during this period was parliamentary business and not inconsistent with the framework. IPEA was also satisfied that Ms Stoker's use of family travel expenses was not inconsistent with the framework.

This Assurance Review focussed on travel using parliamentary business resources by parliamentarians to, from, and within Melbourne between 21 and 27 September 2022 around the time of  the AFL Grand Final on 24 September 2022. IPEA identified 60 parliamentarians who used parliamentary business resources for travel during this period: of these, only 4 travelled into or around Melbourne with parliamentary resources in the period around the AFL Grand Final (Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, The Hon Peter Dutton MP, The Hon Anika Wells MP, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie). After further investigation, IPEA was satisfied that the use of parliamentary business resources by all 4 parliamentarians was not inconsistent with the legislative framework.

This Assurance Review examined travel using parliamentary business resources undertaken in April 2022 by Mr Andrew Laming, his spouse and his two children. The review aimed to determine whether the dominant purpose of this travel was parliamentary business as defined in the legislation, and that the definition of 'family reunion travel' was met. Mr Laming outlined the details of the travel to IPEA but refused to provide evidence for his claims when asked, as is required under the Regulations. As Mr Laming had not provided a response to the Assurance Review with the requested information, invoices were raised for the relevant expenses with 25% penalty loading. In a later email Mr Laming claimed to have material that would justify the April 2022 travel but did not provide it to IPEA.

This  Assurance Review focussed on travel by parliamentarians to, from, and within Sydney between 28 September and 5 October 2022. IPEA identified 12 parliamentarians' offices as having used parliamentary business resources during this period. After contacting and receiving responses from these parliamentarians, IPEA corroborated information and concluded that no travel by any parliamentarians within this Assurance Review fell outside of the legislative framework.

This Assurance Review focussed on Senator Hanson's use of parliamentary business resources to travel to and within Sydney in June 2022. Following contact from IPEA, Senator Hanson stated that the dominant purpose of her travel was parliamentary business as she was required to attend court for a matter related to comments she had made in her capacity as Senator. On the basis of this response, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose was parliamentary business and not inconsistent with the framework.

This Assurance Review examined travel by Senator David Van and his spouse to Prosperine, Brisbane, and Townsville, QLD, between 13 and 21 July 2021. After a meeting with Senator Van and further correspondence, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose of Senator Van's travel was parliamentary business. IPEA raised invoices, with 25% penalty loading, for COMCAR bookings made under the name of Senator Van's spouse that did not meet the Regulations and two instances of incorrectly claimed Travel Allowance. Following the Assurance Review, Senator Van's office sought further education and training. Senator Van subsequently repaid the expenses. 

This Assurance Review examined Senator Pauline Hanson's use of parliamentary business resources to undertake travel to Hamilton Island, QLD, from 2 to 5 October 2020, and Newcastle, NSW, from 15 to 16 May 2021 and 19 to 26 May 2021. On the basis of Senator Hanson's response, IPEA was satisfied that the dominant purpose of Senator Hanson's travel to Hamilton Island was parliamentary business. Following significant communication with Senator Hanson's office, on the basis of the evidence provided, IPEA accepted the Senator's assertion that her travel to Newcastle was for the dominant purpose of conducting parliamentary business and was not inconsistent with the framework. 

This Assurance Review examined the use of car transport by a member of Senator Pauline Hanson's staff between 26 September 2016 and 30 June 2021. IPEA identified 71 instances in this period where the staff member used car transport at Commonwealth expense that required information from Senator Hanson to confirm consistency with the framework. Following responses from Senator Hanson, detailing each of the relevant trips and her reasons for approving each charge, IPEA sought policy advice from Ministerial and Parliamentary Services within the Department of Finance to determine if the trips were consistent with the framework. On the basis of this policy advice and Senator Hanson's responses, there was no information available to IPEA suggesting the staff member's use of car transport was inconsistent with the framework.

This Assurance Review examined travel by parliamentarians to, from, and within Sydney between 28 September and 4 October 2022 around the time of the NRL Grand Final on 2 October 2022. IPEA identified travel for 67 parliamentarians who accessed parliamentary business resources for travel to, from, and within Sydney in this period. Of these, 32 parliamentarians required further investigation. Media reports confirmed 4 parliamentarians attended the NRL grand final. IPEA is satisfied the travel by these parliamentarians was not inconsistent with the legislative framework. Analysis of the travel by the remaining 28 parliamentarians found that parliamentary business resources were not used to attend the NRL grand final. However travel to, from, and within Sydney by 13 of the 32 parliamentarians assessed required further investigation as part of a separate Assurance Review because their travel pattern raised further questions.