There may be an upside to the COVID-19 pandemic – at least for taxpayers. The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority says it administered parliamentary travel expenses of $42.7 million in 2019/20, down from $59.8 million the previous year. The authority attributes the change to MPs travelling less during the pandemic. The figure was revealed in an auditor-general report into the authority’s handling of parliamentary expenses. Reforms to the parliamentary entitlements system were enacted in 2017/18 – in the wake of the Bronwyn Bishop “choppergate” scandal – and designed to increase clarity for MPs, and transparency and accountability for taxpayers. The audit found the authority’s work had been “largely effective”, especially in pr…
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