What parliament costs
Every work expense claimed by federal politicians over the past year: offices, staff, travel and communications.
Federal politicians claimed $175,144,419 in work expenses over Jul–Sep 2025 to Apr–Jun 2026, across 155,998 claims by 279 members and senators.
Where the money goes
Every category claimed against, Jul–Sep 2025 to Apr–Jun 2026.
- Office Facilities$48.7M
- Employee Travel$47.7M
- Office Administration$44.7M
- Scheduled Commercial Transport$12.0M
- Travel Allowance$7.6M
- Other Car Costs$7.3M
- International Travel$4.2M
- Family Travel$1.1M
- Unscheduled Commercial Transport$890k
- Telecommunications$693k
- Family or Nominee Travel$294k
- Uncategorised$303
Spend per member, by state and territory
Electorate size drives travel costs: a Northern Territory electorate covers roughly 1.35 million square kilometres, an inner-Melbourne one a few square kilometres.
- NT$837k5 members
- WA$696k33 members
- NSW$693k70 members
- SA$656k26 members
- QLD$636k53 members
- VIC$610k57 members
- ACT$464k5 members
- TAS$410k22 members
Every politician
The last column compares each member with the median for their own state or territory. Ministers and shadow ministers travel more than backbenchers.
| Politician | Electorate | Total | vs state median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony AlbaneseAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | GRAYNDLER · NSW | $4,335,426 | 7.07× |
| Don FarrellAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | — · SA | $2,048,707 | 3.76× |
| Penny WongAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | — · SA | $1,998,670 | 3.67× |
| Tony BurkeAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | WATSON · NSW | $1,876,217 | 3.06× |
| Richard MarlesAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | CORIO · VIC | $1,844,249 | 3.12× |
| Sussan LeyLiberal Party of Australia | FARRER · NSW | $1,821,689 | 2.97× |
| Madeleine KingAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | BRAND · WA | $1,753,924 | 2.69× |
| Tanya PlibersekAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | SYDNEY · NSW | $1,595,361 | 2.60× |
| Jim ChalmersAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | RANKIN · QLD | $1,584,396 | 2.34× |
| Anika WellsAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | LILLEY · QLD | $1,574,327 | 2.33× |
| Tim AyresAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | — · NSW | $1,571,692 | 2.56× |
| Michelle RowlandAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | GREENWAY · NSW | $1,556,881 | 2.54× |
| Chris BowenAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | MCMAHON · NSW | $1,552,173 | 2.53× |
| Anne AlyAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | COWAN · WA | $1,526,694 | 2.34× |
| Clare O'neilAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | HOTHAM · VIC | $1,497,483 | 2.53× |
| Malarndirri MccarthyAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | — · NT | $1,479,142 | 1.78× |
| Pat ConroyAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | SHORTLAND · NSW | $1,370,610 | 2.24× |
| Larissa WatersAustralian Greens | — · QLD | $1,361,292 | 2.01× |
| Jason ClareAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | BLAXLAND · NSW | $1,320,045 | 2.15× |
| David LittleproudNational Party of Australia | MARANOA · QLD | $1,315,111 | 1.95× |
| Mark ButlerAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | HINDMARSH · SA | $1,311,916 | 2.41× |
| Marion ScrymgourAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | LINGIARI · NT | $1,286,531 | 1.54× |
| Amanda RishworthAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | KINGSTON · SA | $1,276,004 | 2.34× |
| Bob KatterIndependent | KENNEDY · QLD | $1,261,554 | 1.87× |
| Patrick GormanAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | PERTH · WA | $1,255,786 | 1.93× |
| Murray WattAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | — · QLD | $1,251,765 | 1.85× |
| Matt KeoghAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | BURT · WA | $1,246,539 | 1.91× |
| Milton DickAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | OXLEY · QLD | $1,210,272 | 1.79× |
| Matt ThistlethwaiteAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | KINGSFORD SMITH · NSW | $1,175,736 | 1.92× |
| Andrew GilesAustralian Labor Party (ALP) | SCULLIN · VIC | $1,154,995 | 1.95× |
Showing the 30 largest totals of 279 politicians. Former parliamentarians are excluded from this table and reported separately above.
How to read these numbers
- Work expenses cover offices, staff, travel and communications. Claims are certified by the parliamentarian and administered by IPEA.
- Totals are not directly comparable between members. Electorate size drives travel costs, and ministers travel more than backbenchers. Members are therefore compared against the median for their own state or territory.
- Former parliamentarians — including former prime ministers, who retain certain entitlements — are reported separately and excluded from member comparisons.
- IPEA publishes quarterly and later issues adjustments for administrative errors. Figures for recent quarters may change slightly.
Source: Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, published via data.gov.au under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. Covers Apr–Jun 2026, Jan–Mar 2026, Oct–Dec 2025, Jul–Sep 2025. Retrieved 2026-08-06.