Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

If someone trips around this country and says it is an official trip and has the taxpayer pay for it but in reality the substantive business was personal, then that is fraud and that is theft.

That brings me in fact to the second and third components of my private members' bill. In future, whenever a member or senator puts in a claim for the payment of allowances for an official trip, he or should list on that form—and the form should be changed to allow this—and that form should list all substantive activities conducted on the trip, including private activities. That way, in future, the bureaucracy here, but also the public who would have access to those forms online, would be able to look and make their own judgement. And, if a health minister in future spends a night on the Gold Coast and has one meeting with someone about a relatively minor matter and also buys a house while they are there, then the public can judge that trip for what it is—and that is a private trip, a trip for which not one cent of public money should be claimed.

The final component is, when there is misuse, it should not be a small fine, it should not be a slap on the wrist; it should be 'call in the police'—because if any person in this country claims money fraudulently from the Commonwealth, that is theft whether, they be a Centrelink recipient, a business or a member of parliament. I call on the government and the opposition to support this private member's bill. Thank you.

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