RIVERINA MP Michael McCormack has billed taxpayers more than $200,000 in expenses between July and December last year.
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The small business minister has been forced to defend a $208,630 allowance he spent on flights, accommodation, office supplies and telecommunications over the six-month period.
While the federal member’s $29,371 domestic travel allowance almost doubled that of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr McCormack made no claims for overseas trips.
The Riverina MP also scaled back his use of chartered flights, boarding a $2420 private transfer from Wagga to Parkes on October 5
He also spent $11,713 on a charter from Cairns to Mount Isa, which was paid by the Department of Finance last year.
However, during the equivalent period in 2015, Mr McCormack rented an entire aircraft on six separate occasions between July 1 and December 31.
He made no apologies for chartering flights or racking up a near $30,000 domestic travel bill, claiming it is “all part of the job”.
“I use allowances and chartered flights on a needs basis,” he said.
“I used them to get to Parkes when the Forbes floods were on and I make no apologies for it as my electorate is the third largest in NSW.
“Why shouldn’t those people all across the electorate have access to their federal member?
“I work all day and night, all weekend, and sometimes it does cost the Commonwealth money for me to do my job.”
The minister also spent hefty amounts on a number of domestic trips, including a $1988 flight from Sydney to Perth, a $781 flight from Sydney to Melbourne and a $1239 flight from Sydney to Brisbane.
“Some city electorates are the size of a suburb in Wagga,” Mr McCormack said.
“It’s like comparing apples to oranges.
“Of course we need to travel more.”
Under the rules of parliament, politicians representing an electorate the size of Riverina are entitled to $21,160 worth of chartered flights every 12 months.
The release of the expenditure report coincides with a decision handed down by the independent Remuneration Tribunal, giving every MP a 2 per cent pay rise.
The pay rise comes into effect July 1, the same day MPs receive a drop in the top tax rate from 49 to 47 per cent.
