Bill Shorten has been slammed for racking a bill of $1013 after leaving a Comcar driver waiting for him all day while he attended a party.
The hefty bill which is paid for by the taxpayers comes one month after the Labor leader shamed ministers who drive around in their Comcars.
Comcar service is part of the Department of Finance which provides Australian Government employees car-with driver and other ground transport services.
Bill Shorten has been slammed for racking a bill of $1013 while he partied at an exclusive Melbourne Cup party
Bill Shorten (left) and his wife Chloe (right), partied in an exclusive invite-only event last year
According to the latest parliament expenses update, Mr Shorten outspent all government ministers who also use the car service, The Australian reported.
The Labor leader had an AFP security detail when he attended the Melbourne Cup and his Comcar driver for the day was unable to leave while he and his wife Chloe, partied in an exclusive invite-only event.
In five months, Mr Shorten spent almost $40,000 on Comcar travel whereas Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent just over $21,000 in the same period, The Australian reported.
A spokesperson for Mr Shorten told The Weekend Australian that all of the expenses acquired by the Labor leader are for official business and the travelling is conducted within the rules.
‘Unlike Malcolm Turnbull, Bill makes a point of getting out of Canberra and into the regions to spend quality time listening to locals,’ the spokesperson said.
‘All work expenses are for official business and all travel is conducted in accordance with the rules.’
Comcar service provides Australian Government employees car-with driver and other ground transport services
Mr Shorten (pictured) outspent all government ministers who also use the car service
Comcars are billed at an hourly rate of $114 for all ministers, however Mr Shorten has some of the most high charges for the service.
There are eight charges claimed by Mr Shorten which are all above $700 between August and December last year.
The day that senator Sam Dastyari resigned from parliament, Mr Shorten used the service twice on the same day racking another $1000 bill.
While out supporting Kristina Keneally in the Bennelong by-election last year, Mr Shorten acquired another bill of $971.
Within the same period, Mr Turnbull’s Comcar bill totaled to $21,072, with the highest charge being $771.
The Australian reports that Mr Shorten outspent every government minister, and outspent half of the ministers by up to four times.
On Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten’s trip to Israel to commemorate the Battle of Beersheba, Mr Shorten spent almost double of that of Mr Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull spent $43,801 to travel to Israel and Sri Lanka, not including airfares, with his staff’s travel bill worth $11,400.
The Shortens flew with two staff via a stop in Hong Kong for two more days and spent almost $92,000, and the staff bill being worth $44,143.
There are eight charges claimed by Mr Shorten which are all above $700 between August and December last year