Why this happy snap of an MP's wife cost YOU $2,600
- Politician billed taxpayers for his wife's flights
- Couple were celebrating 16th wedding anniversary
- READ MORE: Bank executive is winner in Anika Wells' 'family reunion' splurge
A Queensland MP is under scrutiny after he seemingly used taxpayer funds to fly himself and his wife to their 16th wedding anniversary 'mini break'.
Liberal National Party MP Garth Hamilton was scheduled to attend two days of hearings in Melbourne as Deputy Chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics in 2023.
Scheduled for July 4 and 5, the federal member for Groom used his travel allowance to pay the $804 in accommodation costs for his parliamentary duties.
But Hamilton flew to Melbourne with his wife, Louise, days before his business in the city began at taxpayers' expense.
Instead of arriving the day of or night before the hearings, Hamilton and his wife landed in Melbourne on July 1, later returning to Brisbane on July 6.
Records from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) list Hamilton's flights as 'scheduled commercial transport' and his wife's as 'family travel', each costing $1,301.
Although only two of the six days were for official business, Daily Mail can reveal the couple spent the early part of the trip celebrating their anniversary.
Mrs Hamilton shared a glowing photo at the airport on July 1, captioned: 'Off on a mini break. 16 years of marriage, 20 years together'.
MP Garth Hamilton and his wife Louise (both pictured) travelled to Melbourne at the public's expense, with their flights each costing $1,301
While two days of a six-day trip were for parliamentary business, Mrs Hamilton posted on social media ahead of her anniversary 'mini-break' (pictured)
IPEA records indicate Hamilton repaid the flights from Brisbane to Melbourne, but has not yet paid for the return flights on July 6.
Current rules allow politicians to claim travel expenses only if the trip's 'dominant purpose' is official duties.
MPs and senators can also claim three 'family reunion' trips a year, which include business class airfares.
The entitlement is designed to help politicians maintain family connections despite the job's long hours and extensive travel.
Daily Mail has contacted Hamilton's office for comment.
Scrutiny around the use of the 'family travel' policy was sparked by revelations this week that Annika Wells spent more than $8,500 flying her family to Melbourne for three AFL grand final weekends.
Wells, who is the Sports and Communications Minister, attended the matches in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and also flew her husband and other family members at public expense.
She issued a statement on Tuesday announcing she had referred herself to the independent watchdog for audit.
Anthony Albanese and Annika Wells' use of 'family travel' expenses have also been revealed
Politicians across government have come under fire as their publicly available expenses face closer scrutiny - including Anthony Albanese's.
On Tuesday, it emerged the Prime Minister spent $2,377 on Jodie Haydon's travel for three major events - two AFL Grand Finals and the Australian Open.
A government spokesperson said 'all travel disclosures have been made appropriately and in accordance with the rules'.
Other MPs have been drawn into the expenses saga, including Trade Minister Don Farrell, who has claimed more than $100,000 for 'family reunion' travel since 2022.
Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh was accused of charging taxpayers to fly her son to Queensland, who competed in the Australian National Judo Championships on the Gold Coast.
Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi's travel has also faced scrutiny.
She paid for a relative to join her at the music festival, Splendour in the Grass, in Byron Bay on July 21, 2023, and covered a family member's travel when she attended a pro-Palestine protest in Melbourne on November 19, 2023.
'We are conscientious about using entitlements in accordance with the rules,' Faruqi told The Australian, while responding to community concerns about spending.
'However, travel policies relating to politicians should be open to review to ensure they are fit for purpose.'
