Australia
Geelong MP claims Melbourne property allowance despite missing parliament
A Geelong-region MP has claimed almost $60,000 in accommodation allowances despite missing 88 parliamentary sitting days.
A Geelong-region state Member of Parliament has claimed nearly $60,000 in taxpayer-funded allowances for a second home in Melbourne despite missing more than two-thirds of parliamentary sitting days, according to a wire report.
The MP, who represents a constituency in the Geelong area, reportedly claimed the money to maintain a metropolitan residence. Under parliamentary rules, regional politicians are entitled to financial support to secure accommodation in Melbourne, which is intended to facilitate their attendance when parliament is in session.
However, records show the MP appears to have missed 88 out of a possible 127 parliamentary sitting days. The substantial rate of absence has raised questions about whether the taxpayer-funded allowance was justified during periods when the politician was not actively participating in parliamentary sittings.
The underlying reporting has not yet confirmed the identity of the member, nor has it detailed whether any of the absences were due to official leave, illness, or other parliamentary business. Representatives from regional Victoria are frequently required to balance local electorate duties with their responsibilities in the capital, but the scale of the missed sittings has drawn scrutiny.
The rules governing parliamentary allowances in Victoria require members to act ethically when claiming public funds. While regional allowances are standard practice to bridge the geographical gap for non-metropolitan MPs, the correlation between high claims and low attendance is likely to prompt calls for greater transparency.
Members of the public and political watchdogs will now be waiting to see if the Victorian Parliament’s presiding officers or an independent ethics body will review the MP's expense claims and attendance record.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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