Some MPs charged the taxpayers tens of thousands more than their colleagues for printing in the months before the election, going against an overall downward trend.
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This week Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority released data for spending between January and March, showing some politicians spent up big compared to their previous spending.
While the quarter doesn't cover the last few weeks before the caretaker period, it covers the weeks leading up to the federal budget on April 2, and speculation was rife that the election could be called just days after the budget. In reality, Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn't pull the trigger until April 10.
Under the rules, members of parliament are allowed to charge the taxpayer for a variety of expenses related to their work, including costs of newspaper subscriptions, maintaining websites and newsletters and flyers sent to their electorates, as well as signs. Communications can include the MP's name and photo, but not reference to their party.
While the overall average spend per MP was down for the quarter compared to previous quarters, some of the top spenders were both above the average set by their colleagues and their own previous records.
Liberal Julian Leeser topped the list in the quarter, spending $90,903 on printing and communications.
He is followed closely by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who faced a concerted campaign from an independent and the Greens in the blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong.
The top spenders are spread across the major parties and independents, with Terri Butler and Andrew Leigh from Labor coming in third and fourth on spending on printing and communications, while the Melbourne-based Liberal MP Michael Sukkar was fifth.
Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm, who announced in January he would resign from the Senate to contest the NSW election, spent $62,816 in the quarter, well above his average spend across the previous year.
Mr Leyonhjelm's spending included printed items and e-material paid for after he announced his intention to resign.
Analysis shows the higher spending MPs spent more than they had in similar time periods in 2018.
The Canberra Times isn't suggesting politicians who spent more than others did so outside the rules, but it highlights the advantage for incumbents.
The average spend on printing across all MPs for the quarter was $24,091.61, below the average for the corresponding quarter last year, and well below the June and September quarters.
According to the data there is not a great difference in the printing spend between MPs from the major parties. The average amount claimed by Labor MPs was $23,842.62 in the most recent quarter, while it was $24,171.59 on average for Liberal MPs.
Crossbench MPs weren't far behind, spending on average $20,467.08 on the same items, while the Greens spent on average just $8,600.04.