Joint media release
Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson
Shadow Special Minister of State, Shadow Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, Shadow Minister for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Senator the Hon James McGrath
The never-ending saga of Communications Minister Anika Wells’ travel expenses continues to expose the Albanese Government’s culture of entitlement, secrecy and arrogance, with today’s news another slap in the face for taxpayers across the country.
Labor’s Chris Picton has pulled back the curtain and exposed Air Miles Anika with cake on her face as he declined to corroborate her tall tale of an official meeting at his wife’s boozy birthday bash in June of 2025.
Senator McGrath said Chris Picton’s failure to corroborate Wells’ story is a glaring admission that she has deceived the public and that the Prime Minister is running a protection racket for his arrogant and entitled ministers.
“This is an almighty scandal within the Albanese government and one we now know they have tried to cover up,” said Senator James McGrath.
“If Minister Wells has been caught out lying to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, that is an egregious breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
“The Prime Minister must take action and stand his Minister down, or he is just as complicit in this scandal.”
Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety, Senator Sarah Henderson questioned how Australians were expected to believe that a Saturday night birthday celebration was somehow official ministerial business.
“This simply does not pass the pub test,” Senator Henderson said.
“You cannot turn a birthday party into official business just because a minister was in the room. Perhaps the “sideline meeting” was in the kitchen as the two Labor ministers poured themselves a glass of champagne?
“While partygoers were blowing out the candles, it seems Anika Wells was blowing up her credibility.”
Australians deserve accountability, transparency and Cabinet Ministers who treat taxpayer money with respect.