Former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has repaid nearly $8,800 in parliamentary expenses after her partner claimed family reunion allowances to visit his son in Melbourne while en route to meet her in Canberra. Reynolds accepted the ruling of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) but initially disputed their decision, calling it 'patently ridiculous' and arguing that the stopovers were necessary for family well-being following high-profile workplace allegations against her.
Details of the Repayment
Reynolds, a former defence minister who left parliament at the May 2025 federal election, was required to repay $8,778.01 after three trips her partner took between Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra in May and June 2025. The amount included a 25% penalty loading. In a statement, Reynolds said, 'At the time of undertaking the travel I believed it was within the rules. IPEA took a different view which I accept.'
IPEA's Findings
The IPEA raised concerns that on each occasion, Reynolds' partner 'appears to have stayed for two nights in Melbourne without you, before joining you in Canberra,' noting that 'there are no provisions in the legislation for personal stopovers when travelling for family reunion purposes.' The authority found that the trips between Perth and Melbourne were 'not to accompany or join Ms Reynolds' but instead 'for the predominant purpose, as stated by Ms Reynolds in her correspondence, of spending time with their son.' Family travel entitlements are intended for 'spending time and facilitating family life with the member, not broader family,' ruling the Melbourne stopovers did not meet guidelines. However, subsequent travel from Melbourne to Canberra was deemed consistent with the legislation.
Reynolds' Correspondence
In her correspondence to the IPEA, Reynolds stated that her partner travelled to join her in Canberra 'via stopovers in Melbourne to see and stay with his son… my (defacto) stepson.' She argued that the stopovers were essential given the 'high profile (and false) 2021 workplace allegations made against me,' which she referenced as a traumatic period for her family. Reynolds wrote, 'As [redacted] is my partner's son and an integral member of our family, I believe that [her partner] stopping over in Melbourne on his way to Canberra was clearly to facilitate our family life.'
Other Repayments
The IPEA also published reviews involving Labor MP Louise Miller-Frost, who repaid more than $4,100 after travelling to Perth with her husband several days before a committee hearing, and Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who repaid $387 after claiming an extra day of travel allowance due to an 'oversight.' Miller-Frost argued she travelled early to 'acclimatise' to the time difference between Adelaide and Perth, but IPEA ruled she should only have travelled on the day of or before her parliamentary business began.
