There’s nothing quite like an expenses scandal to make the cheapest of politicians and most tabloid of newspapers think there is a possibility of a political scalp, particularly months out from an election.
Two weeks ago, the Daily Telegraph reported that Lismore MP and Small Business Minister Janelle Saffin had incorrectly used her ministerial allowance to claim the full cost of 52 nights of Sydney accommodation, rather than the Sydney allowance, which only covers $391 a night. The story made much of an eight-night stay around the time of Mardi Gras, at $650 a night.
Minister Saffin addressed it the next day at a budget estimates hearing, explaining the discrepancy as an administrative error and saying she had ordered a rapid audit of all her travel expenses.
“My official travel is not the issue here. It’s all been done appropriately as part of my ministerial and parliamentary duties, and that’s a matter of public record,” Minister Saffin told the hearing.
The unusually intensive and repetitive questioning also took aim at a $500 stay the 71 year old billed to taxpayers for a single night at the Ramada in Ballina, less than an hour from her home. Sarah Mitchell put it to her: “You could drive the half an hour.”
Minister Saffin later told Ballina News Daily the stay was linked to a national disaster-related event requiring an early start, and that she had arrived in Ballina about 10pm the previous evening.
“One night, out of a year,” she said.
Minister Saffin said she was “mortified” by the wider controversy.
“People have certainly got the right to ask me,” she said, adding she was still getting to the bottom of the issue.
This week, with the rapid audit by Minister Saffin’s office still underway, the impatient NSW Liberals and Nationals referred the matter to the NSW Auditor General.
“It appears the government is trying to wait this one out, so we have referred this reckless spending of taxpayer funds to the NSW Auditor General,” NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said.
Mr Singh said Chris Minns had acknowledged Minister Saffin’s use of taxpayer funds was inappropriate but had so far failed to act.
“Minister Saffin told Budget Estimates this was all above board and dismissed it as a simple misunderstanding,” Mr Singh said.
“If that was the case, this would have been resolved immediately.”
The Premier said he would wait for the results of the audit already underway before speaking to his minister about it.
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