SENATOR THE HON JAMES MCGRATH

SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITIES

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

SENATOR JAMES PATERSON

SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE

SENATOR FOR VICTORIA

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MEDIA RELEASE
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THE MINISTER FOR TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE
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09 December 2025
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This self-referral is a belated admission that Anika Wells has breached community expectations and has brought the Albanese Government into disrepute.

The Opposition has been calling for this matter to be referred to IPEA for days. An investigation is appropriate and it must establish whether any breach of the legislative framework governing parliamentarian’s entitlements has occurred.  Under the ParliamentaryBusiness Resources Act 2017, a member must not claim expenses unless they are incurred for the “dominant purpose” of conducting their “parliamentary business”.

However, having refused to express any contrition for almost a week now– including today – this forced 'self'-referral is too little too late.

The Prime Minister must immediately refer this to the Secretary of theDepartment of Prime Minister and Cabinet for investigation, seeking advice on whether a breach, or indeed multiple breaches, of his Ministerial Code ofConduct have taken place.

That Code of Conduct mandates that ministers must:

·       observe standards of behaviour “worthy of the Australian people”

·       act in a manner“consistent with the highest ethical standards”

·       not put public resources “to wasteful or extravagant use”, with “due economy” to be observed“at all times”

·       be “scrupulous in ensuring the legitimacy and accuracy of any claim for ministerial, parliamentary or travel expenses”

·       comply with requirements around declaring gifts.

The revelations over the past week suggest the standards in this code have not been complied with.

Anika Wells should now stand aside for the duration of both the IPEA investigation, and the one which must be conducted by the Secretary of thePrime Minister's Department, given the significant breach of public trust caused by multiple instances of extravagant expenditure of public money.

ENDS

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