The federal health minister racked up some family reunion bills when he was representing the minister for sport at the cricket and tennis in January of 2024.
Mark Butler, the federal minister for health, disability and ageing, is the latest Labor cabinet member to be caught up in the travel expenses brouhaha, albeit almost two years ago, and for relatively unspectacular amounts.
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority shows that in the period January to March of 2024 Mr Butler attended the New Year test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground with his son and the Australian Open men’s final in Melbourne with his wife.
At the time Mr Butler was “repping” – representing the minister for sport – so the expenses for flights, accommodation and chauffeur services fall under “official duties” for himself and under the “family travel” allowances for his wife and son.
The total taxpayer-paid expenses for both trips came to about $5500.
The tennis trip cost $3821.55 – $382.67 each for two flights from Adelaide to Melbourne on 28 January, the day of the match; $136.50 for a taxpayer-funded chauffeur in Melbourne on the day of the match and $78.90 for another the following day; $1903.69 for Mr Butler to fly back to Adelaide via Canberra on 29 January; and $382.67 for a second return flight for Ms Ritorto to return to Adelaide the same day.
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The cricket trip cost $1673 to fly with his son to the New Year SCG Test match on January 5 under family reunion provisions – $145.80 for two taxpayer-funded chauffeur services to and from the airport in Adelaide, $1393 for two return flights and $134.30 for two taxpayer-funded chauffeur services to and from the airport in Sydney.
While at the game Mr Butler announced the federal government’s donation of $2.3 million to the McGrath Foundation.
The IPEA records also show taxpayers were charged more than $600 for Comcars, including for Mr Butler and a family member to attend WOMAdelaide on 11 March 2024.
HSD contacted Mr Butler’s office for comment.