Foreign Minister Julie Bishop took four taxpayer-funded trips to her hometown during her sister’s birthday, but insists she was on official business.
Ms Bishop travelled to Adelaide coinciding with MaryLou Bishop’s February 12 birthday four times – in 2010, 2011, 2012, and visited on the 11th this year.
The four flights cost the taxpayer about $7000, on top of a lavish $73,000 trip to North Queensland with foreign diplomats, also using public funds.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop took four taxpayer-funded trips to her hometown during her sister’s birthday, but insists she was on official business
Ms Bishop travelled to Adelaide (pictured, stock image) coinciding with MaryLou Bishop’s February 12 birthday four times – in 2010, 2011, 2012, and visited on the 11th this year
The Liberal deputy leader has come under fire in the past for flying home to spend her own birthday with family, and for trips to sporting events.
Ms Bishop claimed a travel allowance for her February trips to Adelaide, and for trips to celebrate her 58th and 60th birthdays, The Herald Sun reported.
The birthday flights cost taxpayers $2400 and $1600 respectively, while the trips coinciding with her sister’s birthdays cost about $7000.
On this year’s visit Ms Bishop is believed to have appeared at an event run by the Australian Chinese Medical Association for Chinese New Year as a guest speaker.
The four flights cost the taxpayer about $7000, on top of a lavish $73,000 trip to North Queensland with foreign diplomats, also using public funds (pictured is Julie Bishop)
The Liberal deputy leader has come under fire in the past for flying home to spend her own birthday with family, and for trips to sporting events (pictured is MaryLou Bishop)
The three-day Great Barrier Reef visit included a $26,890 charter boat for 112 guests, a photographer and meals at a top restaurant.
Photos of Ms Bishop snorkelling were intended to show efforts being made by Australia to protect the reef, she said afterwards.
A spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said her Adelaide trip were ‘within official guidelines’ and meetings and events were scheduled for each trip.
‘The Foreign Minister does not schedule her official travel around birthdays,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘The Foreign Minister does not schedule her official travel around birthdays,’ the spokeswoman said (pictured are Julie Bishop, left, and her sister MaryLou Bishop, right)