Ley ‘fell short’ of the rules

SUSSAN Ley says she fell short of community standards by getting taxpayers to pay for her chauffeur-driven car ride to an auction on the Gold Coast, where she bought an $800,000 unit.

A Department of Finance review, tabled by the former cabinet minister in parliament yesterday, found the trip was not for official purposes and invoiced the dumped health minister for the ride and a day’s travel allowance plus a penalty.

Ms Ley, who now sits on the backbench, has also voluntarily paid back more than $5200 for travel she felt might be considered more personal in nature. The member for Farrer said she wanted to release the report to allow Australians to draw their own conclusions.

The department found only one claim that was outside her entitlements over three-and-a- half years. “This was for a fiveminute car trip,” she told MPs. “Even so, to avoid any doubt, I had already repaid the entire amount in January this year.”

While Ms Ley had planned to buy a property for some time, the purchase of the apartment was on impulse – just 20 minutes after she first saw it.

“It was an entirely incidental and unplanned activity,” she said.

Ms Ley noted she spent only 15 nights on the Gold Coast during her 703 days as a cabinet minister – six were because she was a conference keynote speaker.

She dismissed as “ridiculous” suggestions she booked ministerial charter flights between capital cities to maintain flying hours as a pilot.

“When I resigned as minister I did so because the facts could not overcome the story ... and the repayments I have chosen to make … are because I recognise that I have fallen short of community standards.”