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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Christopher Knaus

Eric Abetz’s $2,000 expense to attend Tony Abbott farewell dinner justified by former PM’s ‘pro-Tasmania policies’

Eric Abetz Tony Abbott Ipea Tasmania Sydney Kevin Andrews
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz during a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra
Liberal senator Eric Abetz billed taxpayers more than $2,000 to travel from Tasmania to Sydney to attend a farewell gala dinner for former prime minister Tony Abbott. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Liberal senator Eric Abetz justified billing taxpayers $2,000 to travel to a lavish farewell gala dinner for Tony Abbott by saying the former prime minister implemented “pro-Tasmania” policies, making his attendance relevant to his home state.

The explanation, which was cleared by the expenses watchdog, was used as the basis for charging taxpayers $2,196 to fly to Sydney and back to Hobart, using government cars to get to the party.

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