By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
MEMBER for Gippsland Darren Chester is one of more than 50 federal MPs named in a newspaper report as using taxpayer-funded travel quotas to help pay off mortgages on their Canberra homes.
Federal MPs receive a $322 nightly travel allowance to cover accommodation, food and incidentals during parliamentary sitting weeks. MPs not based in Canberra can claim the amount even if they stay at a home they own, allowing them to redirect the funds to a mortgage.
Analysis by the Herald Sun revealed 56 MPs and Senators have disclosed owning a home in the ACT or neighbouring Queanbeyan, New South Wales, either by themselves, through their spouse, or jointly-owned with their partner.
With 66 sitting days currently scheduled for 2026, a politician could claim a total of $21,252, or up to $31,878 factoring in the night before a sitting week starts and days off during a sitting fortnight.
Mr Chester is one 20 MPs who own a home in the Kingston area, close to Parliament House, the Herald Sun reported.
According to the Herald Sun, the average cost of an apartment in the area is $655,000, with the government’s MoneySmart mortgage calculator estimating loan repayments at $3255 a month or $39,000 a year.
Travel allowance rates are set by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.
Unlike other cities, there is not a split rate for commercial and non-commercial arrangements for MPs staying in Canberra.
A politician can claim up to $499 if they stay at an interstate city hotel or motel, or $173 if using a private residence, like the home of a family member or friend.
In statement to the Express, Mr Chester said all his travel claims are on the public record.
“The vast majority of MPs, Senators and staff don’t live in Canberra, so they need to find accommodation for sitting weeks, or when they are required in federal Parliament for official duties,” Mr Chester said.
“Like many other employees in the private or public sector who travel frequently for work, an allowance is provided for overnight stays.
“By way of background, the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority sets the rate of travel allowance for Federal MPs and staff when they are required to stay away from home in any city, including Canberra.”
Mr Chester said he preferred the system used by the Victorian Parliament, where state MPs who live more than 80 kilometres from Melbourne can choose to access a Parliamentary Accommodation Sitting Allowance of more than $25,000 per year to rent or buy a city property.
“But that option is not available for federal MPs and Senators who must register each night they stay in Canberra to receive any travel allowance,” Mr Chester said.
“In federal Parliament, MPs can decide whether to permanently rent, book hotel rooms each sitting week, or purchase a property for the nights they stay in Canberra.
“Regardless of the choice they make, everyone receives the same nightly travel allowance of $322, and there is no additional cost to taxpayers if a MP chooses to buy or permanently rent a property.
“I take my reporting responsibilities seriously, and all travel claims are declared in the interests of transparency and remain on the public record.
“When I first entered Parliament in 2008, I stayed in hotels in Canberra for several years until I moved into a one-bedroom granny flat as a rental, for about six years.
“As recorded in my register of interests, I purchased a property in partnership with a fellow MP in 2016, and when he left Parliament, I bought his share of the unit in Kingston. The mortgage is with Westpac Bank, which is also recorded in my register of interests.
“The rate of remuneration and travel allowance for MPs is set independently, and it is not up to me or any other MP to decide how much we are paid when we are away from home for parliamentary duties.
“However, if we are going to attract and retain people with the skills to make laws, advocate for the interests of our diverse communities and administer portfolios as ministers in our democracy, I’ve always believed our elected representatives need to be reasonably compensated.”
Independent Senator David Bocock, who represents the ACT and cannot collect the allowance during sitting weeks, said rates needed to “be in line with community expectations”.
Senator Pocock told the Herald Sun he wanted to see an independent review, and consider if it is more appropriate to pay a non-commercial rate for a travel allowances when politicians are staying in Canberra with friends, relatives or a property they own.
One of the MPs who owns a home in the ACT told the same newspaper politicians who had homes in Canberra were mainly members of safe seats. That MP said, in most cases, the allowance did not cover the mortgage, and “quite frightfully should just be for lodging”.
