According to this facebook post,May 20 2026 Ref: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAustralianConservativeSupportPage/photos/this-is-madeline-king-minister-for-resources-she-is-another-labor-mp-treating-au/1292243752995915/
“… Madeline King, Minister for Resources: (she) is another Labor MP treating Australian taxpayers like her personal credit card.
In the first 3 months of 2026, she racked up a whopping $511,557 in expenses billed to taxpayers (that’s the second-highest spend in the entire Parliament, second only to the prime minister). Her expenses included:
– $28,000 for a 4 night trip to the US (This travel cost was part of her broader ministerial expenditure of $511,557 across the first quarter of 2026, which covered international visits to North America, Qatar, and Japan.)
– $52,000 for another 4 night trip, this time to the US and Canada
– $54,000 for 6 nights in Qatar (including $34k for her staff to join her)
– $30,900 for 4 nights in Japan
– $40,000 in domestic flights including 2 flights that she did not use but were not refundable
– a separate $266,000 (yes really) on her 18 employees (yes really) to fly with/for her, not included in any of the above figures
– $61,000 on “office facilities” whatever that means
– $45,000 on printing & general office expenses”.
Are these the actions of a person you can trust, or is the information in the post “tosh”?
According to parliamentary expenditure reports, “Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King claimed $68,324.18 in family travel expenses”.
Family Travel expenses? Add that to the above bill.
Yep. But it’s Ok because it’s inside the rules.
Channel Nine’s news article December 10 2025 entitled, “Federal politicians billed taxpayers $1.1 million for their family’s travel”, lists the amounts Federal Politicians claimed and received in reimbursements for their family travel, updated to include the 1st quarter of 2026.
Ref: https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/family-reunion-travel-federal-politicians-billed-taxpayers-1-million-20251210-p5nmjb.html
Listed below is a Channel 9 news report advising that Cabinet Minister Anika Wells has referred herself for an independent audit overtax payer funded expenses. The report advises, “as a sports loving sports minister, Anika Wells has made the most of the gig“. It goes on to say “the cabinet ministers spending on family travel has been in particular focus. her husband and kids enjoying sports events and a skiing holiday at taxpayer expense”. It lists articles saying, “Wells billed taxpayers to fly husband to two Boxing Day tests”, and “Within guidelines’: PM shrugs off Wells’ ski trip $34 K New York flights” , etc ,etc, Ref: the age.com.au, advising that of the $4 Million spent on family travel since 2022, “she is not the biggest spender, well behind Andrew Willcos at $123 769.00 whose wife works as a volunteer in his office “chalking up most of his claims” or Independent Senator Fatima Payman the second highest spender through her husband’s travel”.
The article advises that “spouses are banned being on MPS payroll”.
Imagine if they weren’t.
Ref: https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/family-reunion-travel-federal-politicians-billed-taxpayers-1-million-20251210-p5nmjb.html
All within the guidelines, all within the rules.
Ref: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/post/albanese-defends-ministers-travel-costs
But that’s only taxpayer family travel.
What about the other expenses?
When Wells was in Paris during the Olympics as the sports minister, the taxpayer picked up the tab for almost $1000.00 for a sit-down meal for four people at a Michelin-star restaurant, followed by drinks costing $750
Ref: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/post/albanese-defends-ministers-travel-costs
and
WHAT? … … Did the taxpayer pick up the tab for four people to dine out and then cover the $750 worth of drinks including alcohol?
Apparently.
But it’s all within the guidelines.
It’s all within the rules.
What’s apparently not within the rules is the acknowledged, “$4.6 billion a year going out the door of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to criminal fraud”.
Quote Ref: Article NDIS fraud crackdown will flip rules for ‘let it rip’ provider market by Jake Evans ABC 24 Apr 2026.
That’s 4.6 thousand million dollars, … … each year.
His article published one month later headlines as NDIS rorting by criminal syndicates worse than feared, says scheme’s watchdog advising that, “The acting boss for the NDIS watchdog says more than a fifth of funding may be being abused by crime groups”.
So, … … …,
“The NDIS has cost an estimated $44 billion this financial year, meaning at least $8 billion worth of funding intended for people with disability is allegedly being abused by crime syndicates”.
So, … … …,
More than 8 thousand million dollars a year sourced from the taxpayer is going into the hands of organised crime via this government program.
Is there more to be concerned about”
Yep.
The Guardian advises that “corruption fighter” Geoffrey Watson’s report, “Rotting from the Top“, being a report commissioned by the CFMEU administrator, Mark Irving KC, alleged that the Victorian branch, “was no longer a trade union, it was a crime syndicate”. This was addressing misplaced/missing/unaccounted for taxpayer’s money and the report advises that $15bn is probably a conservative estimate of the amount missing.
Ref: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/16/cfmeu-victorian-branch-15bn-cost-estimate-explained-administrator-report-ntwnfb
And just for a bit of sport, all happening around the same time, let’s add that ABC News headline advises, “Queensland police Finance review referred to corruption Watchdog“. that is, “A review into Queensland Police finances has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission. The review found money was redirected from its intended purpose“. “The review which has made 21 recommendations, also found the QPS had a forecast deficit of $400 million for the 2026 financial year. Police Commissioner Brett Pointing said he made the referral to the corruption Watchdog is he acknowledged the review could impact “public confidence and trust” in the administration practice of the QPS”.
Ref:https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122175741584750034&set=pcb.122175741638750034
A quote from the 1971 Movie, Billy Jack”, read “When policemen break the law, then there isn’t any law”.
Senate President Sue Lines has refused to say whether the Greens party room renovations are value for money after the taxpayer-funded upgrade blew out to $2.2 million, almost three times the original price tag.
That’s 2.2 million dollars for a room renovation almost three times the original price tag.
Ref: https://www.senatorpaterson.com.au/news/greens-have-a-party-with-2m-renovations
It is a bit hard for the Australian taxpayer to have to decide what to go without to pay for essentials and those decisions are made by the majority of households on a regular basis. Working families cut back on food and food quality to pay the rent when government bodies are unrestricted on their spending and unaccountable for where the money goes.
With costs heading north every Tuesday because insurance costs, water bills, electricity supplies and council rates continue to increase, Australia is less of a lucky country as the clock ticks, … unless you are in the club.
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Moreton Bay residents can access weekly tips from John on Community Radio 101.5 FM Friday Mornings at 10:10am
John Lynn