Pandemic reduces the cost of parliamentary expenses
Staffers entering Parliament House after-hours will need to register in a new safety trial. Photo: Getty
There may be an upside to the COVID-19 pandemic â at least for taxpayers.
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority says it administered parliamentary travel expenses of $42.7 million in 2019/20, down from $59.8 million the previous year.
The authority attributes the change to MPs travelling less during the pandemic.
The figure was revealed in an auditor-general report into the authorityâs handling of parliamentary expenses.
Reforms to the parliamentary entitlements system were enacted in 2017/18 â in the wake of the Bronwyn Bishop âchoppergateâ scandal â and designed to increase clarity for MPs, and transparency and accountability for taxpayers.
The audit found the authorityâs work had been âlargely effectiveâ, especially in providing advice to MPs and processing travel claims.
However the assurance framework was ânot informed by an assessment of compliance risk and visibility over relevant expenses administered by other entitiesâ.
The authority identified $30,875 as being non-compliant with the rules in 2019/20, based on 95 non-compliant claims.
The audit found the claims related to domestic flight connections for international travel not related to parliamentary business, the use of self-drive vehicles or taxis, and the use of COMCAR within a parliamentarianâs own electorate.
The audit also reported the authority was awaiting information from the Australian Federal Police about the outcome of an investigation into the travel allowance claims of an unnamed MPâs staff member.
The authority is able to make referrals to the AFP when fraud or criminal activity is suspected.
The audit made four recommendations, including improving its risk management and performance measures, and the authority agreed to them all.
It was also revealed as of November last year there were two debts outstanding: a former parliamentarian, who had been declared bankrupt, had a debt of $1534.80.
The authority was following it up with the trustee.
As well, a former parliamentarian owed $501.68 from a total of $2833.68 identified as non-compliant.
When the authority was established, the Finance Department transferred 61 outstanding debtors totalling $108,287.
-AAP
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