Sports Minister Anika Wells spent close to $9000 of taxpayers’ money on family reunion flights and travel entitlements so her husband could attend three AFL grand finals with her.
Wells and her husband, Finn McCarthy, attended the three grand finals as guests of the AFL, according to declarations on the minister’s register of interests and Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority data.
Minister for Sport Anika Wells at the AFL grand final in 2024. Credit: Instagram
Sport Minister Anika Wells at the 2024 AFL grand final. Credit: Instagram
While it is expected that Wells, as sports minister, attend high-profile sports events, this is one of several reports of her generous use of entitlements to have appeared since last Wednesday, when questions on notice to Senate estimates revealed she, a staffer and a senior public servant spent almost $100,000 on return flights to New York last September.
In 2022, McCarthy’s flights from Brisbane to Melbourne and back to see Geelong defeat the Sydney Swans cost taxpayers $2913.68.
In 2023, when Collingwood defeated the Brisbane Lions, taxpayers spent $3537.15 so Wells, McCarthy and the couple’s three small children could fly from Brisbane to Melbourne return. The family stayed in Melbourne from September 27 until October 1, and Wells also charged four nights’ travel allowance of $469 a night, or $1876 in total, for official duties in the Victorian capital.
Communications and Sport Minister Anika Wells. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
And in 2024, when the Lions defeated the Swans, taxpayers spent another $2126.70 for McCarthy to fly to Melbourne and attend the grand final with Wells.
Many politicians regularly attend the AFL grand final. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also attended all three years.
The total cost of flying McCarthy and the couple’s children to Melbourne was $8577.53. With Wells’ use of travel allowance and flights, the total cost to tax
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