<description>&lt;p&gt;Over the past week, Labor Minister Anika Wells has become the face of a new debate over politicians' perks.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Revelations about a near-$100,000 trip to New York to talk up Australia&amp;rsquo;s teen social media ban at the UN, followed by reports of taxpayer-funded family travel to grand finals, ski fields and overseas sporting events, have seen her refer three-and-a-half years of expenses to the parliamentary watchdog.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The prime minister insists her claims are &amp;ldquo;within the rules&amp;rdquo;, but the backlash &amp;ndash; and even more questions over the spending of MPs from all parties &amp;ndash; has opened up a bigger argument about whether the rules are fair, and whether they match public expectations in a cost-of-living crisis.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on parliamentary entitlements &amp;ndash; and whether this scandal will force change.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you enjoy&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;7am&lt;/em&gt;, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at &lt;a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support"&gt;7ampodcast.com.au/support&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Socials:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;Stay in touch with us on &lt;a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast"&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest: &lt;/strong&gt;Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Photo: &lt;/strong&gt;AAP Image/Lukas Coch&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

7am

Solstice Media

Another day, another expenses scandal

DEC 10, 202515 MIN
7am

Another day, another expenses scandal

DEC 10, 202515 MIN

Description

Over the past week, Labor Minister Anika Wells has become the face of a new debate over politicians' perks.

Revelations about a near-$100,000 trip to New York to talk up Australia’s teen social media ban at the UN, followed by reports of taxpayer-funded family travel to grand finals, ski fields and overseas sporting events, have seen her refer three-and-a-half years of expenses to the parliamentary watchdog.

The prime minister insists her claims are “within the rules”, but the backlash – and even more questions over the spending of MPs from all parties – has opened up a bigger argument about whether the rules are fair, and whether they match public expectations in a cost-of-living crisis.

Today, press gallery journalist Karen Middleton, on parliamentary entitlements – and whether this scandal will force change.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Press gallery journalist Karen Middleton

Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.