Alister Henskens
Shadow Minister for Government Accountability
Sarah Mitchell
NSW Nationals Duty MLC for Lismore
Extraordinary revelations at Budget Estimates today have exposed the Minister for Small Business and Disaster Recovery treating taxpayer money as her own personal expense account.
Under questioning in Budget Estimates, Minister Saffin confirmed she has launched a “rapid audit” into her own spending, but refused to answer any questions about the specific allegations put to her.
Among the revelations:
- 52 nights of improper Sydney accommodation claims dismissed as an “administrative error”;
- A five-star Sofitel stay costing $1,200 for two nights (double her reimbursement rate);
- A $530.94 “incidentals” charge she refused to itemise or explain;
- Ministerial staff repeatedly travelling to, and staying in her own electorate when she wasn’t there;
- Incomplete and inaccurate Ministerial diary disclosures; and,
- Staff billing taxpayers for flights in and out of Canberra instead of Sydney to the tune of almost $3,000.
Shadow Minister for Government Accountability Alister Henskens said Minister Saffin told Budget Estimates on two occasions that her staff weren’t charging the taxpayer for flights to and from Canberra.
“Her office records show members of staff taking at least seven flights to and from Canberra,” Mr Henskens said.
“It’s unacceptable that the Minister refused to answer questions on taxpayer funded expenditure and even worse that she attempted to justify this use of taxpayer funds.”
During estimates, Minister Saffin announced that her office, who she blamed for the “administrative error”, would be conducting the review into her spending.
NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sarah Mitchell said this isn’t an administrative error, it’s a pattern of behaviour from this Minister, and the Premier’s office needs to be involved in the audit process.
“Why are four Ministerial staff in her electorate when she was in her Ministerial Office in Sydney? Why are taxpayers forking out for Ministerial staff to swan around NSW with no diary disclosures? The Minister wouldn’t even confirm the total number of staff in her office,” Ms Mitchell said.
“These are basic questions the Minister should be able to answer on the spot. Instead, she has taken them on notice and given herself three weeks to work up a response.”
Chris Minns promoted Janelle Saffin to Cabinet after Jo Haylen was dumped for using her Ministerial driver to travel to and from a winery in the Hunter Valley. The question now is if he’ll apply the same standards to Janelle Saffin?
