Senior Australian politicians have collectively claimed more than $1.5 million in taxpayer-funded accommodation allowances while staying in properties they personally own in the nation's capital, a practice permitted under parliamentary rules left unchanged by recent reforms.
The Lucrative Loophole in Canberra
Under the parliamentary entitlement system, MPs receive a nightly allowance intended to cover costs when working away from their primary residence. This rate was $291 in 2022 and stands at $322 today. While claims must be halved outside Canberra if staying with family or friends, no such reduction applies within the capital.
This means politicians can claim the full nightly rate for stays in homes they own or are paying a mortgage on, with no requirement to provide receipts, provided the stay is for parliamentary business. The system uses a fixed daily rate to ensure consistency and avoid disputes over hotel pricing or accommodation type.
Top Claimants and Substantial Sums
Leading the list of claimants is Liberal Senate leader Michaelia Cash, who collected $123,978 over three years and four months. She routinely claimed the maximum $322 nightly rate, effectively pocketing over $3,000 each month while sleeping in her own Canberra home.
Close behind was Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie, who claimed $103,939 over three and a half years for nights at her Canberra property. On the Labor side, Treasurer Jim Chalmers led the claims, billing taxpayers $100,095 for stays at his registered Canberra residence.
Other senior ministers benefiting include Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who received $68,006 after the 2022 election, and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who owns six properties including one in Canberra and claimed $43,494. These payments are in addition to ministerial salaries approaching $400,000 annually, plus flights, vehicles, and other travel perks.
A Broader Pattern of Expenses Scrutiny
These revelations emerge alongside separate scrutiny of other MPs' expenses. Communications Minister Anika Wells faced criticism for a $95,000 last-minute trip to New York in late 2025. She also billed for a COMCAR vehicle that waited seven hours outside the Australian Open and claimed for flights to take her husband to major sporting events. Wells later admitted to failing to declare gifted tickets and referred herself to the expenses watchdog.
In response to growing scandals, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a suite of proposed reforms just before Christmas, asking the Remuneration Tribunal to tighten rules on taxpayer-funded family travel. Proposed changes include mandating economy-class fares and restricting family flights.
Furthermore, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland was ordered to repay part of a $21,000 family trip to Perth after the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority ruled a portion breached official guidelines. Rowland only referred the claim for audit after the spending became public.
The practice of claiming allowances for owned homes is not uncommon; about a quarter of Australia's 226 MPs own property in Canberra, many of whom are long-serving parliamentarians. Some MPs are known to share addresses to reduce costs, but the core entitlement allowing claims for owned homes remains intact, continuing a controversial and costly tradition.
