The Prime Minister must hold Communications Minister Anika Wells to account after the independent expenses watchdog found she breached family and personal travel rules on four occasions and was required to repay more than $10,000 in taxpayer funds.
This is not minor. It is not a paperwork issue. It is not a rounding error.
At a time when Australian families are being smashed by higher mortgages, higher power bills, higher grocery bills and higher taxes, a Cabinet Minister has been forced to repay more than $10,000 because taxpayer-funded travel breached the rules.
After claiming she was “confident all my travel and expenses is [sic] within the framework”, the minister must explain herself fully and immediately.
That Anika Wells tried to justify her travel breaches by asserting she chose “the more sensible, cheaper option” shows she is tone deaf to her ministerial obligations.
The Ministerial Code is clear. Ministers must be scrupulous in ensuring the legitimacy and accuracy of claims for ministerial, parliamentary and travel expenses.
On the independent watchdog’s findings, Anika Wells has failed that test.
Anthony Albanese promised a higher standard. Instead, Australians are getting the same old Labor arrogance, one rule for them and another rule for everyone else.
Anika Wells sits around the Cabinet table. She is responsible for spending public money. She cannot wave away a breach of travel rules involving more than $10,000 of taxpayer funds.
The Prime Minister now has a simple choice. He can enforce his own Ministerial Standards, or he can admit they are not worth the paper on which they are written.
Australians deserve accountability. They deserve transparency. And they deserve ministers who treat taxpayer money with respect.