Minister for North Coast, Minister for Recovery and State MP Janelle Saffin issued a statement about her travel expenses after coming under scutiny last month for accomodation expenses at Ballina and in Sydney.
Here’s what she said:
My office has completed an audit of all ministerial and staff travel expenses since I became a minister in March 2025.
The audit was done with advice and support from the Department of Parliamentary Services, the Cabinet Office and the Premier’s Department.
I ordered this audit to ensure that all travel expenses were appropriate and claimed in accordance with the Ministers’ Office Handbook and the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal’s determination.
All of my travel expenses have been declared and published since my appointment as minister.
The audit has confirmed that expenses associated with official travel to Sydney were inadvertently paid for from my ministerial office budget.
Expenses relating to parliamentary business should have been funded from the Sydney Allowance provided to MPs in non-metropolitan electorates.
As a result of the audit, I will reimburse my Ministerial office budget for these travel expenses.
Costs associated with travel to Sydney will instead be claimed from the parliamentary Sydney allowance as appropriate, in accordance with the usual process for MPs claiming parliamentary entitlements.
The audit has separately reviewed ministerial staff travel expenses and has not identified any further issues requiring action.
I regret that this administrative error was not picked up and rectified sooner but I hope my experience will result in greater awareness of ministerial and MPs’ entitlements for everyone.
I strongly believe regional MPs should be able to serve as ministers.
Regional communities deserve a strong voice around the Cabinet table, and the practical reality of living outside Sydney should never be a barrier to that.
In my 22 years of public service as an elected official, I have always acted with integrity and will continue to do so.
It is my great honour and privilege to serve the people of my Lismore Electorate and the people of NSW as Minister for Small Business, Recovery and the North Coast.