Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

Unlike the previous government, the Prime Minister has set out his expectations to Ministers in relation to Commonwealth funded overseas travel, including the cessation of taxpayer funded first class travel that occurred under the previous government. Any spouse travel should be an exception, not the rule, and will usually only be approved if costs are met personally by the Minister and accompanying spouse.

The final costs of international travel by ministers are reported to the Department of Finance and published every 6 months on the department's website at: http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/parliamentarians-reporting/.

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