Peter Dutton has repeatedly charged taxpayers for flights that coincide with closed-door, exclusive fundraising events, including a men-only club in Melbourne and a private home on Sydney’s north shore. These events, organized by party fundraising vehicles, have become more frequent as both Labor and Liberal parties seek funds for the upcoming federal election campaign. Politicians are prohibited from charging taxpayers for travel if the main purpose is fundraising rather than parliamentary business.
Despite this rule, Dutton has attended several Liberal fundraisers, which were advertised weeks in advance, alongside in-studio interviews, speeches, or press conferences considered legitimate parliamentary business. Although these events are not uncommon and do not breach any rules, Anthony Albanese also attends similar events and has faced criticism for using taxpayer-funded flights before attending such gatherings. On one occasion, Albanese cancelled an appearance at a small fundraising dinner in Sydney due to the flood emergency in southeast Queensland and northern NSW. However, the Prime Minister’s travel expenses are not easily transparent, as he relies on special purpose jets.
Dutton charged taxpayers for flights in October 2022 to attend fundraisers in Sydney and Melbourne. In April 2023, he charged taxpayers for travel to attend a private dinner at the Opera House in Sydney, where donors could discuss issues with him. In December, Dutton charged taxpayer funds for travel to attend an exclusive fundraising lunch in Newcastle, which supported campaigning in a Labor-held seat. He also attended a News Corp event and Lachlan Murdoch’s Christmas party in Sydney. On both occasions, taxpayers were billed for his wife’s travel expenses. MPs can claim costs for family travel when spouses or relatives accompany them for parliamentary business, but Dutton argued that the fundraisers and parties were not the main purpose of the trips.
Regardless of their compliance with rules, the use of taxpayer-funded flights for fundraising events has prompted calls for an overhaul of the expenses system. Anthony Whealy, former NSW Supreme Court judge and chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, believes the loophole in the rules allows MPs to claim travel expenses for events that the public may not deem fair.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/11/peter-dutton-charged-taxpayers-flights-coinciding-with-liberal-fundraisers-australian-election-2025
