The trade and tourism minister, Don Farrell, charged taxpayers more than $2,200 to travel to Canberra on the same weekend he attended a press gallery journalist’s wedding, describing the reason for the trip as official duties.

Farrell – who as the special minister of state has portfolio responsibility of the independent parliamentary expenses authority – flew from Adelaide to Canberra with his wife on 1 November last year, charging taxpayers a total of $1,636 for return flights.

Farrell also claimed two nights of travel allowance payments for the trip, worth $636, listing official duties as the reason for the travel. Australia’s senior politicians can claim ‘unlimited’ travel expenses for their spouse, watchdog rules say Read more

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The couple’s air fa

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