The Member for Paterson, and Liberal front bencher Bob Baldwin has poured scorn on reports he spent $28,000 of taxpayers’ money on an eight day study trip to Papua New Guinea.
Mr Baldwin, the opposition’s regional development spokesman told the House of Representatives on Monday that the cost to the taxpayer was more like $4,000.
Media reports of documents tabled in parliament last week, outlining MP travel and overseas study trips, pointed the finger at Mr Baldwin for his visit to PNG which included five days aboard a luxury charter boat.
“My time on board MV Seafaris was at no cost to the taxpayer,” he told parliament, adding that this complimentary hospitality had been fully declared on the register of members’ interests.
Bob Baldwin says he drafted a 37 page report on his findings straight after the trip.
“In particular I noted the relevance of these meetings to my role as then shadow minister assisting the shadow minister for defence,” he said.
