A senior Greens senator is confronting a significant internal party rebellion after being accused of inflicting serious 'reputational damage' through her controversial use of parliamentary travel entitlements.
Motion of Disrepute to be Debated
South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is at the centre of the storm, facing intense scrutiny for charging taxpayers nearly $50,000 to fly her husband, a lobbyist, to and from Canberra. According to The Australian, the SA Greens State Council will this weekend debate a formal motion alleging she has brought the party into disrepute.
The motion expresses profound concern that media reports about Greens MPs' 'family reunion' travel claims have risked damaging the party's reputation. It urges MPs under public scrutiny to take steps to restore trust, such as repaying funds or submitting their spending for an independent audit.
The Details of the Travel Claims
The controversy focuses on two specific sets of expenses claimed by Senator Hanson-Young:
Firstly, it was revealed in December that she had claimed $49,902 for 78 flights under 'family reunion' entitlements to transport her husband, Ben Oquist, to Canberra. These claims began in July 2022, coinciding with Mr Oquist securing a role at DPG Advisory Solutions, a government relations firm in the capital.
Secondly, the senator also claimed almost $3,000 for flights and accommodation to attend the Byron Bay Bluesfest music festival with a relative. This included flights from Adelaide to the Gold Coast costing $2,250.64 and two nights' accommodation in Byron Bay totalling $718.
Party Rules and Internal Fallout
The internal motion highlights that the Greens' own by-laws classify behaviour that damages or risks damaging the party as misconduct. While Senator Hanson-Young is not explicitly named in the text, it is widely understood she is the MP referenced, citing a News Corp report about a Greens MP financing a spouse's work-related travel.
Some of her colleagues have demanded she repay the $49,902 in airfares, with rival members in Adelaide reportedly suggesting the senator should 'consider a life after politics'.
However, the senator has received backing from SA Greens MP Robert Simms, who stated she was operating within the rules and retains his support. The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) has also stated it was satisfied with the evidence and explanation she provided when queried about the claims.
The SA Greens State Council, which meets quarterly, will debate the contentious motion this weekend, determining the next steps in a saga that has exposed deep internal divisions.
