South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has declared she acted in good faith when she charged taxpayers almost $50,000 to cover flights for her husband to travel to and from Canberra, where he works as a lobbyist. The high-profile senator came under intense fire last year after it was revealed she had claimed $49,902 in parliamentary travel expenses under the 'family reunion' provision to fly her husband, Ben Oquist, on 78 separate occasions.
Senator Vows to Sacrifice Entitlements After Public Backlash
Facing accusations of causing 'reputational damage' to her party, Hanson-Young announced on Thursday that she would voluntarily sacrifice her family travel entitlements going forward. In a televised interview with Sky News, she stated, 'Look, as you know, it's all within the rules and that's been confirmed by the independent authority. It's all been above board, but let me say, I've made a decision that going forward, I'm not going to use the entitlement because it's just not worth the stress and the attention that it brings onto families.'
Defending Legitimacy While Acknowledging Controversy
During a rigorous grilling by television host Karl Stefanovic, who questioned whether it was appropriate to 'ferry' her husband around at public expense, Hanson-Young maintained that all expenses were legitimate. 'I've had it all checked by the independent authority. I've always used the family reunion entitlement,' she hit back forcefully. When Stefanovic pressed further, asking if she had 'taken the mickey in the past' with 'all those extra family flights,' the senator insisted she had acted entirely within the 'appropriate rules' governing parliamentary conduct.
Under current parliamentary regulations, politicians are permitted to claim travel expenses only when the 'dominant purpose' of a trip involves official duties. Additionally, MPs and senators are allowed to claim up to three 'family reunion' trips annually, a provision designed to help maintain family connections despite demanding schedules and extensive travel requirements.
Timing of Travel Claims Coincides with Husband's New Role
The controversial travel claims began in July 2022, which coincided precisely with Mr Oquist securing employment at DPG Advisory Solutions, a Canberra-based government relations firm. The company's client portfolio includes major corporations such as Wesfarmers, Rio Tinto, Ausgrid, and Catholic Education. This timing has raised additional questions about the nature and purpose of the frequent travel between Adelaide and the national capital.
Additional Festival Travel Expenses Revealed
Further scrutiny revealed that Senator Hanson-Young had also claimed nearly $3,000 in taxpayer funds for flights and accommodation to attend the Byron Bay Bluesfest music festival with a relative. The expenses included $2,250.64 for flights from Adelaide to the Gold Coast, plus $718 for two nights' accommodation in Byron Bay during the festival period.
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA), which oversees and reviews politicians' use of family travel entitlements, has examined Hanson-Young's claims. The authority stated it was satisfied with the evidence and detailed explanation provided by the senator when requested to supply further information about the expenses.
Personal Choice Versus Public Perception
Despite her decision to cease using the entitlement, Hanson-Young emphasized that she doesn't 'begrudge anybody else for using it. That's up to them, that's their personal choice, but going forward, I won't be.' This statement highlights the tension between parliamentary rules that permit such claims and growing public sensitivity about politicians' use of taxpayer-funded benefits, particularly when they involve family members with independent professional careers.
The controversy continues to spark debate about the adequacy and transparency of parliamentary entitlement systems, with critics arguing that even technically permissible claims can undermine public trust when they appear excessive or personally advantageous.
