Minister defends expenses as Coalition demands independent review

Communications Minister Anika Wells is defending a series of taxpayer-funded trips, insisting all expenses were within government rules as the Coalition calls for an independent investigation.

Wells has faced growing scrutiny after it was revealed she spent around $100,000 flying herself and three staff to New York to promote Australia's incoming social media age restrictions. Additional details have since emerged about trips to Paris, Thredbo and Adelaide.

The minister acknowledged the spending may cause a "gut reaction" among the public, but argued travel was arranged through an independent agency rather than personal choice. She added that the New York visit had been delayed due to the national fallout from a major Optus triple-zero outage.

"People can have an opinion about whether it was worth the money," she told Sky News. "But for me, the policy imperative - the life-changing work we are trying to do - was really important, and I stand by it."

Prime Minister backs travel as further costs revealed

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the New York trip, describing it as "very significant" in shaping international responses to online safety.

"This was an important event that led directly to the European Union taking action," he said. "UN officials told me it was the first time a forum had genuinely changed their mind."

Wells, who is also the minister for sport, reportedly made three trips to Paris over 12 months at a cost of $116,000 to attend major sporting events including the Rugby World Cup and the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. She was authorised to spend $6,000 on meals over five days, with one dinner costing $600.

"I recall sometimes eating a muesli bar in the car. These are big days," she said. "I appreciate it looks a certain way because it's Paris, but that is where the Games were."

Coalition calls for expenses probe

Coalition senator James Paterson said the costs were "extraordinary" and should be examined by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.

Industry spokesperson Alex Hawke argued the spending "doesn't pass the pub test", saying some meal and travel expenses were high enough to "make the royals blush".

"If the minister is eating a muesli bar, why is the taxpayer being charged for expensive dinners if she's not partaking in them?" he said.

Wells has also been questioned over a $3,600 trip to Adelaide in June, during which she attended a friend's birthday while on official business. She said she met with South Australian officials regarding the state's sport institute and a new para-sport unit.

Another controversy arose over a June 2024 work trip to Thredbo, where the minister charged $3,000 in flights and allowances for her husband and children to travel with her. Wells attended meetings with Paralympics Australia and organisers of an adaptive snow sports festival. She confirmed her family went skiing but said the visit complied with family reunion guidelines.

Past comparisons resurfaced, including a 2012 Uluru work trip by current Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who later repaid $8,656 of costs despite the travel being within the rules.

Wells said she had no intention of repaying any expenses, adding, "I work really hard, and I will keep following the rules as I have in every single instance."

The scrutiny over Wells's Thredbo travel has become a significant political headache for Labor.

Observers note the complexities of ministerial life, particularly for parents juggling family responsibilities with demanding roles. Nonetheless, critics argue that using public funds for a family reunion at a ski resort does not align with community expectations.

While Wells was in Thredbo for work, the optics of taxpayer-funded family travel to a ski resort - an activity many Australians cannot afford - have amplified public frustration, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

The fallout from her New York flights, Adelaide trip, and multiple visits to France has added to a growing perception issue for the government. Some within Labor privately believe the series of leaks may be politically motivated, though the source remains unknown.

Regardless of the internal dynamics, analysts note that such controversies only gain traction when questionable judgement is exercised. For high-profile ministers, they argue, it can often be safer to self-fund discretionary travel to avoid damaging headlines.

The ongoing expenses debate has overshadowed the government's rollout of new laws restricting social media use for under-16s - a major policy priority for the prime minister.

On Sunday, Albanese was repeatedly questioned about Wells's travel, but maintained she acted within entitlement rules. He emphasised her work promoting disability sport and advancing Australia's social media reforms at international forums.

"Anika Wells was doing her job," he said. "This was an important event, followed by meetings and discussions on how the legislation could gain global support. When a country like Australia takes on global tech giants, that matters."