Mrs Dunne received contradictory advice from Assembly Clerk Tom Duncan and Ethics and Integrity Adviser Stephen Skehill in March about her decision to convert a business-class ticket paid for by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association into two economy fares.

The move allowed her husband Lyle Dunne to travel to Malaysia for a weeklong family holiday before an association meeting, where, despite a program for spouses, Mr Dunne did not attend official events.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr criticised her decision, saying spouse travel should be privately funded, and warned Assembly members to learn from federal Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, who was forced to resign on Sunday.

But Mrs Dunne defended her decision, accusing the clerk of changing his advice to her after the tickets were booked.

She described their relationship as "robust" and professional.

"I am not quite sure what the clerk's motivation was," she said. "I took the view at the time that his advice was wrong and that advice was substantiated by a lengthy discussion that I had with the ethics and integrity adviser.

"I'd already listened to the clerk and he'd already given me advice that it was OK. Part of his advice was that I should check with the ethics and integrity adviser ... [who] had signed off that he did not consider that it was a problem. So I acted in good faith."

Mrs Dunne said she would consider taking her husband on future overseas trips.

In written advice, Mr Duncan said Assembly members were required to abide by all rules, codes of conduct and determinations governing territory politicians' travel. He said the cost of the trip was being met indirectly by taxpayer funds through membership contributions to the association and raised some concerns about fringe benefit tax arrangements and compliance with the ACT Self-Government Act.

The association received more than $14,000 from ACT taxpayers last financial year.

Mr Duncan and Mr Skehill both warned the planned trip was likely to attract media attention and raise questions about Mrs Dunne's compliance with the ACT Remuneration Tribunal ban on travel by spouses and staff. Mr Skehill, a former secretary of the federal Attorney-General's Department, said there was no substantive reason the trip should not go ahead as planned but said it could raise "media or public confusion and potential controversy".

Earlier, Mr Duncan advised Mrs Dunne to seek advice from Mr Skehill on whether the trip complied with the members' code of conduct. Mr Skehill said Mr Duncan's advice was wrong, and that once funds were paid to the association, travel was no longer the responsibility of the Assembly.

Mrs Dunne booked the tickets privately and was reimbursed by the association's London headquarters. A five-star hotel was paid for by the Sabah local government.The Assembly provided a travelling allowance of $500, used for out-of-pocket expenses including an Anzac Day wreath.

Mr Duncan said the trip highlighted a "grey area" but that his role was to provide frank and fearless advice.

"It's a very grey area," he said. "The key question is, is ACT taxpayers' money involved?

"I am comfortable saying taxpayers' money has been spent. I think it's pretty clear taxpayers' money has been spent and it is still subject to the Remuneration Tribunal."

The Remuneration Tribunal brought forward an end to spousal travel in 2014, after news broke of a trip by Mrs Dunne, her husband, Liberal member Giulia Jones and a staffer to study prostitution laws in Europe.

The $37,000 study tour went ahead, despite strong advice from the Assembly clerk that taxpayers should not fund travel for staff. In March it was reported the Speaker and Mr Dunne took a $9000 trip to Samoa for the Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, approved before the spousal travel ban came into force.

On Tuesday, Mrs Dunne announced she would lead a delegation to Taiwan. The trip, which will include two other members and Mrs Dunne's senior adviser, will be paid for by the island's government.