Overview
- Anthony Albanese confirmed his office approved last‑minute commercial flights for Anika Wells and two officials to New York, with expenses records showing about $94,827 for three business‑class tickets after she delayed departure due to the Optus 000 outage.
- Wells says the UN trip advanced Australia’s push on the social media age ban due to start Wednesday, while the prime minister maintains the spending complied with parliamentary entitlements.
- Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority data shows a June Thredbo visit cost $2,845.50 including accommodation and family flights claimed under family‑reunion rules, which Wells and the government say were used in line with guidelines.
- Newly reported records show $4,183.83 in flights over three years for Wells’s husband to join her at cricket events under family‑reunion provisions, with additional reporting citing an $888 flight to the Formula One Grand Prix.
- Further scrutiny has focused on three Paris trips in 12 months costing about $116,000, including a €569 dinner for four and €427 in drinks during the Olympics, as opposition figures call for independent scrutiny and ministers defend the claims as within rules.