Albury-based Farrer MP Sussan Ley, whose electorate incorporates Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith, has stood aside without ministerial pay while her use of entitlements is investigated. 

Ms Ley landed in hot water after a purchase of a $795,000 Gold Coast apartment on Main Beach Parade with views of the Pacific Ocean, while on a taxpayer-funded trip classified as official business.

Ms Ley’s dogged defence of the spontaneity of the purchase was eroded by fresh reports she had been house hunting in the Gold Coast hinterland nine months earlier.

It’s since come to light Ms Ley travelled to the tourist hot-spot twice at taxpayer expense for lavish New Year celebrations hosted by a multimillionaire political donor whose company has won major government contracts.

In another blow to the government, four ministers  – Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Attorney-General George Brandis, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Education Minister Simon Birmingham – charged taxpayers almost $7000 to attend a harbourside New Year party in 2015. 

Riverina MP Michael McCormack said the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Martin Parkinson will objectively determine whether expenses were rorted or not. 

“It’s right that Sussan Ley steps aside,” Mr McCormack said. 

“Travel allowances come from taxpayers’ hard-earned money and they need to be put through proper scrutiny.

“There’s far more public scrutiny of politicians than ever before; journalists go through each and every line item looking for anomalies.”

Wagga Charles Sturt University politics lecturer Troy Whitford conceded flights worth $3900 wouldn’t blow a hole in the national budget, but charging the public purse “treated voters with contempt”.

“It might not be illegal, it might not even be against regulations, but come on, common sense says you shouldn't be using taxpayers funds for personal travel and enjoyment.,” Dr Whitford said.

“It goes back to political integrity; it's not so much about the sum of money, it's the trust we put in politicians to serve our best interests.

“If we start lowering the bar – saying we all cheat here and there – it's a slippery slope to corruption.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 1¢ or $1 million, elected officials must be above reproach.”

The local expert in political and policy history said Ms Ley’s excuses didn’t hold water and doubted the full story had come out.