Bridget McKenzie defends taxpayer-funded travel – and denies claims a trip overlapped with her son’s wedding
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has said her taxpayer-funded travel was legitimate after claims she expensed trips overlapping with her son’s engagement party and wedding.
The Victorian senator is under pressure after parliamentary expense records revealed she charged taxpayers for flights to and from Tasmania in April 2022.
She flew from Melbourne to Devonport on April 29 for a Liberal campaign event that evening.
The following night, she attended her son’s engagement party before taking a taxpayer-funded return flight to Melbourne costing $259.40 on May 1.
Expense reports also revealed that she had claimed $853.52 in public funds for a four-day trip to Tasmania in February 2023, overlapping with her son’s wedding.
Her office later said she repaid $207 for one flight following questions about the trip.
During an appearance on the Today show on Thursday, McKenzie said the trip was for legitimate work purposes and denied any misuse of public funds.
‘When we’re undertaking legitimate work … there are arrangements in place to assist us to do that work,’ McKenzie told host Sarah Abo.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie (pictured) said her taxpayer-funded travel was legitimate
McKenzie (pictured) said taxpayer funds were not used for travel to her son’s wedding
‘It is not right and appropriate to bill the taxpayer… for personal activities – and I did not do that.
‘It’s a great privilege to be an MP… representing my community and fighting to make our country a fairer and safer place.
‘Taxpayer funds should never be used for private business, nor were they in this case.’
The issue has sparked criticism within Coalition ranks, with Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson questioning whether it passes the ‘pub test’.
‘The focus always has to be on making sure we’re spending public money appropriately and doing it consistent with the rules,’ he said this week.
‘But the difference between the rules and the pub test (means) there’ll always be a gap, and I think that this clearly fits within that one.’
Abo also raised the optics of the roughly $800 claim, suggesting it could be damaging regardless of whether it complied with the rules.
But McKenzie dismissed this, saying she stood by her actions.
McKenzie (pictured) repaid $207 for one of the flights on the trip
‘I’ll leave you guys to commentate on the optics. The facts are the facts,’ the senator told Abo.
‘These rules exist to make sure MPs can do their job … but also to ensure taxpayer funds aren’t abused.’
2GB presenter James Willis, who joined the panel on Today, said repaying the funds would be the simplest way to resolve the issue.
‘To be honest … I’d be repaying the money today. It’s a couple of hundred dollars. It gets it out of the paper for tomorrow,’ he said.
But McKenzie insisted she had complied with the rules governing parliamentary travel.
‘I’m very comfortable that I’ve respected the rules,’ she said.
‘When I’m working away from home, there are programs to assist, and when I’m on personal business, I pay my own way.’
It is not the first time McKenzie’s expenses have faced scrutiny.
In 2024, she apologised for failing to declare 16 flight upgrades with Qantas, including several on personal travel.
She also faced criticism late last year for billing taxpayers nearly $30,000 for travel and accommodation linked to sporting events after leaving the sports portfolio.
Addressing concerns earlier this week, Ms McKenzie’s office said the allegations were a ‘baseless smear by the Labor Party’.
A spokesperson maintained that she undertook legitimate ministerial duties during her trips to Tasmania.
