Nationals leader David Littleproud took flights to the Gold Coast on the taxpayers’ coin – just days after he settled on a flash new Surfers Paradise pad
The Nationals leader claimed taxpayer-funded cash for a trip to the Gold Coast just days after buying a luxury Surfers Paradise apartment worth $1.4 million.
David Littleproud broke parliamentary rules when he paid for flights to the Gold Coast and took a government-funded taxi service to Surfers Paradise on February 9 last year.
The Maranoa MP and his wife Amelia purchased a luxury two-bedroom apartment with stunning beach views in the Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise tower in December 2022, with the settlement finalized on February 6, 2023 – three days before his trip, reported The Australian.
Mr Littleproud, who has managed the Nationals since 2022, eventually reimbursed $2,009.76 for three flights and a COMCAR journey from Surfers Paradise to the Gold Coast Airport in March last year.
But an investigation by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Assurance Review found that “parliamentary business was not the overriding purpose” of Littleproud’s trip.
However, the parliamentary expenditure watchdog said no further action was needed as Littleproud had repaid the costs.
David Littleproud (pictured) broke parliamentary rules when he cashed out flights to the Gold Coast and took a government-funded taxi service to Surfers Paradise on February 9 last year.
The guidelines allow MPs to claim expenses for a range of different reasons, including ‘where travel is undertaken and associated expenses are claimed for the ‘dominant purpose’ of conducting parliamentary business’.
On Tuesday night, Littleproud said he only made the mistake of flying back to the Gold Coast instead of Brisbane.
“The only thing I did wrong was I arrived at the wrong port… and I admit that and I raised my hand, but I didn’t know that was wrong,” Mr Littleproud said. Sky News.
‘But I didn’t apply for overnight stays, I wasn’t there with the taxpayer, I came home to be with my family, which is what most MPs do… and then I not only paid what was owed to the taxpayer, I got more paid because I didn’t want there to be any suspicion.’
The revelation comes after Queensland Premier Steven Miles sparked outrage for chartering two private jets to travel to the same destination at the same time – just days after passing a bill forcing a cut in carbon emissions.
Mr Miles and his staff flew on one plane, while Police Minister Mark Ryan and Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski used another plane for a trip to Townsville to hold a press conference on youth crime.
The private jets, which cost about $6,500 an hour to hire, left Brisbane within 15 minutes of each other on Monday afternoon for the 2,800km round trip.
Mr. Miles and his staff flew in an Embraer Phenom 300, while Mr. Ryan and Mr. Gollschewski traveled in a Cessna Citation CJ2+, the Courier mail reports.
The Maranoa MP and his wife Amelia purchased a luxury two-bedroom apartment with stunning beach views in the Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise tower (pictured) in December 2022, with the settlement finalized on February 6, 2023 – three days before his journey
After holding the press conference announcing new measures to tackle Queensland’s youth crime epidemic, the trio returned to their separate planes and flew on to Cairns.
Mr Miles appeared on breakfast TV on Tuesday morning before the trio returned to Townsville and traveled up the coast to Hervey Bay.
The jets eventually returned to Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon with plans for the Prime Minister to return to Cairns on Wednesday.
A government spokeswoman said commercial flights were used where possible, but they were not suitable for that journey and it was important he visited regional centres.
“Labor is a government for all of Queensland, not just the South East, so it is vital that both the Premier, Ministers and the Commissioner travel to the regions,” she said.