Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has defended charging the taxpayer more than $5300 for attending three NRL games in 2012, declaring he will not be paying the funds back as the trips were a legitimate part of his job.
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On Wednesday, Fairfax Media reported that Mr Joyce, who was given free tickets to watch the 2012 State of Origin and NRL finals in corporate boxes, claimed flights to Sydney, Comcars and overnight "travel allowance" to the value of $4615.
It was also revealed on Wednesday that Mr Joyce charged taxpayers $741 for a family member to fly to Sydney and join him at the NRL grand final on September 30.
Mr Joyce, who has previously billed taxpayers for travel associated with two weddings, described his travel to the NRL games in June and September 2012 in his expense claims as "Shadow Minister - Official Business".
A spokeswoman for Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media that the then Coalition spokesman for regional development, local government and water, was an official guest of Westpac Bank on June 13, 2012 and of the Australian Rugby League Commission on September 14 and 30, 2012.
In an interview with ABC Radio on Wednesday, Mr Joyce said he would not be paying the money for the NRL trips back because, "part of my job is to go things that you're officially invited to".
"The only reason you go to them is because you're invited [as] an official guest. The only reason you're an official guest is because you're a politician. By reason [of] you being there, they talk to you about their business."
He said he had discussed issues such as drugs in sport and an NRL team for central Queensland at the matches, adding that the Rugby League Commission had "every right" to have access to politicians.
When asked why he claimed for family travel, he said he had probably taken his wife or one of his daughters, because he did not get to see his family often. There are provisions made for spouses and children to travel with MPs.
Entitlement rules state that "official business" means attendance at "properly constituted meetings of a government advisory committee or task force provided that the senator or member is a member of the committee or task force".
According to the Finance Department, there are also travel allowance and car transport provisions for shadow ministers when "travelling in the performance of duties or functions connected with the office of Shadow Minister".
Mr Joyce's explanation follows hints from the Abbott government that it will tighten the rules around politicians' entitlements.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said he had "no doubt" that Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson will recommend improvements to the system.
On Wednesday, Mr Joyce said he had no problems if the guidelines were changed around travel.
"I've got no problems whatsoever if they say, 'from this point forward, you won't go to meeting you've been officially invited to', because that means I get to spend more time at home, which I'm really at ease with."
In the wake of reports by Fairfax Media in September, Mr Joyce repaid $650 he claimed for attending the wedding of broadcaster Michael Smith in 2011.
With Jonathan Swan, Lisa Visentin
