PM grilled over $291-a-night ‘travel perk’

But he‘s left the door open to a review of the arrangements by an independent umpire.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not defend the practice at the National Press Club today arguing he had “only ever owned one home” and did not engage in the practice.

It is a longstanding practice in Canberra for MPs to claim $291 a night regardless of whether or not they are staying in a hotel.

For most MPs who travel to Canberra for three nights during a sitting week that means they are pocketing $873 a week to stay in an apartment they already own.

The Prime Minister was asked at the press club today, “How is it fair that you‘re prepared to pay up to $800 bonus in two tranches to aged care workers who have been literally working among the dying and the dead during the pandemic but you’re going to pay all of these politicians $873 to sleep in their own beds for three nights when they come to Canberra?.”

“For the record, I only own home, the one that Jenny and I own in the Shire,‘’ he replied.

“I don‘t have a problem with people investing for the future. But that hasn’t been my experience. We’ve rented all the time I’ve been here in the Parliament. So this is not something that I’ve had any direct involvement with. Others may have and I make no judgement about that.”

Asked why he didn‘t make judgement Mr Morrison said this was a matter for the independent Remuneration Tribunal that sets entitlements.

Canberra is the only capital city where MPs are allowed to claim $291 a night regardless of whether they are staying in a hotel or not.

In other capital cities they need to provide receipts on request and cannot claim the maximum allowance for staying at their own property or even a friend‘s house.

“What I would expect to happen is that the independent process that is set up to look at members‘ entitlements,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“The support that is given to members and senators to come and do their job and be here in Canberra and so on, that is done independently of the Government. And it should be done independently of the Government. It shouldn‘t be a matter of political football. It should be one where those who can look at the circumstances fairly and make judgments about it and then.”

Asked if he would ask MPs to stop the practice Mr Morrison said everyone should observe the rules. The current practice is entirely legal.

“I expect all of my members and senators to comply with all of the rules that are in place. I do. I expect them to do that.

“If those rules need to change, then I‘m sure that those who are responsible for ensuring those rules are fair and reasonable, would bring forward a recommendation to that end. That’s what I would expect them to do. That’s their job.”

Many MPs purchase apartments in Canberra and then use the travel allowance to pay off their mortgages.

Some also allow other MPs to sleep at their apartments for a nominal rent, allowing them to pocket even more cash and their friends to pocket more TA.

Some have claimed more than $150,000 or more over a number of years helping to pay down their mortgage on an investment property.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has refused to ban MPs from claiming a $291-a-night allowance to stay in their own apartment in Canberra if elected, a practice that has allowed scores of MPs to pay off their mortgages.

Mr Albanese was probed about the politician’s perk on Melbourne radio on Monday after news.com.au revealed he was claiming travel allowance to stay in his own flat.

“Your travel allowance, $17,169 to stay in a flat of your own. Liberals do the same,” 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell said.

“I know it’s within the rules but it just looks bizarre you get that sort of money as an allowance to stay in property you own. Can you change those rules?”

Mr Albanese said he didn’t plan to change the rules if he is elected Prime Minister. It follows revelations a Liberal MP spent three months in Canberra claiming TA during Melbourne’s lockdown.

The broadcaster then interrupted Mr Albanese to ask if voters really accepted this practice as normal.

“I understand, but do you think the real world really thinks it’s acceptable to charge $17,000 just as a travel allowance to stay in your own house?” Mitchell asked.

“Well I think that the Remuneration Tribunal is arm’s length from politicians and I think that’s a very good idea to keep that Neil, to keep that arm’s length process for politicians so that we’re not determining our own entitlements,” he said.

“So you wouldn’t change that?” Mitchell replied.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson is another MP who claims travel allowance to stay at his own apartment in Canberra.

In 2017, he purchased an apartment in Red Hill, one of the oldest and most exclusive suburbs in Canberra, for $369,000.

The property was purchased by an investment trust jointly controlled with his husband called the Bolger-Wilson Investment Pty Ltd.

According to his register of interest, Mr Wilson and his husband have a mortgage over the property with the Commonwealth Bank.

Five years later, real estate data suggest that the property has doubled in value to an estimated $705,000.

During the same period, Mr Wilson has also claimed $138,729 in travel allowance to stay in his Canberra apartment.