The parliamentary expenses watchdog gave the green light to Sports Minister Anika Wells flying her lobbyist husband in and out of Canberra on the taxpayer’s dime.
Following a five-month audit of Ms Wells’ travel, the expenses authority (IPEA) ordered her to pay back $8,093 in wrongly claimed expenses and $2,023 in penalties.
However, the IPEA approved travel for her husband Finn McCarthy – a lobbyist for Suncorp Group – for multiple flights in and out of Canberra under family reunion rules.
Under a description of the Government Affairs role held by Mr McCarthy, he has been tasked with “leading engagement with key government stakeholders”.
The spokesperson for the Minister said all of Mr McCarthy’s travel was conducted in accordance with the rules.
“During those times he did not undertake any work for his employer,” the spokeperson said.
Shadow special minister of state James McGrath told SkyNews.com.au on Wednesday Ms Wells had new questions to answer about her use of taxpayer funds.
“Given Minister Wells has already been caught flouting the rules, it is up to her to confirm that every time the taxpayer has paid for her husband’s travel, it was in a private capacity as her spouse, not as a lobbyist,” he said.
“This is a Minister who has shown scant regard for taxpayers’ money since the moment she became a minister and continually refuses to answer serious questions about her abuse of family travel entitlements.
“Regardless of the way Labor try to spin and bury this one… her husband not doing work at these events is as believable as Air Miles Anika conducting a meeting at a boozy birthday bash.”
The new findings raise questions about the use of the taxpayer-funded family reunion entitlement, after similar controversy engulfed Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Notwithstanding the watchdog clearing the expenses, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs Daniel Wild told SkyNews.com.au the latest revelation did not pass the pub test.
“This reeks to the high heavens. Not only does this not pass the pass the pub test, it doesn’t even pass the test of basic decency and respect for the Australian people,” he said.
Speaking to the broader saga engulfing the Sports Minister’s use of taxpayer funded travel entitlements, Mr Wild argued she should resign.
“How much more will be revealed can only be speculated, but it is obvious the political class is having a lend of the rest of us,” he said.
“Clearly it is time for Anika Wells to go. Politicians should not be living the high life on the taxpayer dime, especially at a time the government drops an atrocious budget.”
The IPEA audit into Ms Wells’ use of taxpayer-funded travel for family members included several trips for her husband to fly in and out of Canberra.
These trips included:
A 5 September 2022 Canberra trip where “travel by her spouse was for the dominant purpose of facilitating their family life”. A 21 September 2022 trip involving Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne for the Queen’s memorial service, the FIBA women’s basketball championships, WADA meetings and the AFL Grand Final, where the watchdog again approved spousal travel. An 18 June 2023 Canberra week-long trip where “her spouse joined the Minister”. A 22 March 2024 Melbourne and Canberra trip tied to the Australian Grand Prix and stakeholder meetings, where Mr McCarthy accompanied the Minister. A 20 June 2025 Canberra trip where Ms Wells’ spouse and dependents accompanied her for parliamentary business. A separate 24 June 2025 Canberra trip where Mr McCarthy travelled “to attend a function at the invitation of the Speaker”, which the IPEA ruled complied with regulation 23 of the rules.
In each case, IPEA accepted the explanation that the dominant purpose of the spouse’s travel was “facilitating the family life” of the Minister’s family.
“The dominant purpose of her travel was parliamentary business as defined in the Determination,” the audit repeatedly stated.
“IPEA acknowledges the Minister’s advice that travel by her spouse was for the dominant purpose of facilitating the family life of the Minister’s family.
“IPEA finds that this travel met the requirements of section 16 of the PBR Regulations.”
The audit into Ms Wells’ conduct also revealed one partially non-compliant family travel claim involving Canberra flights in May 2025.
The watchdog found Ms Wells was not conducting parliamentary business on May 10 and 11 after caucus meetings had concluded.
That meant the family members joining her in Canberra during that period fell outside the definition of permitted family travel.
The audit revealed taxpayer-funded flights to Canberra were booked for Mr McCarthy and three dependents at a cost of $1,171.04 each.
The watchdog also found 85 per cent of a 74-hour hire car booking should be repaid because it was not used for the dominant purpose of parliamentary business.
“IPEA finds that the travel of the Minister’s family to Canberra on 10 May does not meet the definition of family travel,” the report stated.
As a result, part of the travel costs was recovered from Ms Wells.
The broader audit found four of 25 family reunion travel matters did not fully comply with the rules.
“I accept (Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority) assessment and I am sorry for making these honest mistakes,” Ms Wells said of the audit result.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the minister after the findings became public.
“She’s paid back the money. We have IPEA. We have an Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority who’s in charge of this,” he said.
“She referred herself to it, which was appropriate, and it was appropriate that she pay back the money.”
Asked whether Ms Wells should resign, the Prime Minister said: “Anika Wells is a very good Minister”.
The controversy intensified after questions emerged over whether Ms Wells held an official meeting with South Australia Health Minister Chris Picton on the same evening as a party.
Mr Picton declined to publicly confirm details of the alleged meeting, which was said to be held on the same night as his wife’s 40th birthday party.
During Question Time on Tuesday, Ms Wells was pressed about her declaration to the independent inquiry regarding her taxpayer-funded travel.
“Yes. I stand by everything that I have said to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority,” Ms Wells said.
“I also note Minister Picton has confirmed that series of events in a series of media outlets.”
The statement pointed to a story by The Advertiser earlier this week, which described Mr Picton and Ms Wells’ encounter on June 7 as an “informal chat”.