“I’M SORRY… BUT…”: ‘Travel queen’ Anika Wells ɦιt by MAJOR shσck after luxury travel revelations — as she makes BIZARRE admission over thousands of dollars on travel clɑims, leaves many stunned…

Embattled Communications Minister Anika Wells has been ordered to pay back thousands of dollars to taxpayers after a months‑long investigation into her travel scandal.

Wells apologised on Friday morning for four trips she took on the taxpayers’ coin that were against the rules for federal politicians.

The Communications and Sports Minister repaid the taxpayer‑funded trips after spending several months entangled in a scandal over thousands of dollars in travel expenses.

‘These were four cases where I chose what I thought was the more sensible, cheaper option, but those choices were not allowed according to the rules, which I accept and respect,’ Wells said in a statement Friday morning.

‘I accept the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority assessment and I am sorry for making these honest mistakes. I have repaid the money with a penalty loading.’

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority found four trips were outside the rules, with the minister forced to repay $10,116, including a 25 per cent penalty loading.

Since December, Wells has been at the centre of a scandal after it was revealed she spent $90,000 on a trip to New York to promote the government’s controversial social‑media ban – scrutiny that later widened to include a series of taxpayer-funded trips involving her family.

Among the expenses, Wells spent $7,000 to fly her husband, Finn McCarthy, to three AFL grand finals, all on the taxpayer’s coin.

Embattled federal minister Anika Wells has been ordered to pay back taxpayers thousands of dollars

Wells and her husband Finn McCarthy attend the minister’s ball in 2023

Wells also charged taxpayers almost $1000 for a chauffeur for seven hours on the day she attended the Australian Open in 2023, and more than $1200 for nine hours on the day of the NRL and NRLW grand finals in 2022, according to the parliamentary expenses register.

The minister also spent $3000 on flights and allowances for her husband and children to join her at Thredbo in June 2024 while she attended meetings with Paralympics Australia and Adaptive Festival organisers.

In another extraordinary expense, the minister had a secure communications facility installed in her electorate office in October 2024 while serving as Sports and Aged Care Minister – despite a similar facility already being available about a 20-minute drive away.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moved to restrict family reunion travel entitlements following backlash to the expenses scandal.

Albanese rejected calls for the minister to resign following the audit report’s findings.

‘She referred herself to it, which was appropriate, and it was appropriate that she paid back the money,’ Albanese told reporters on Friday in Melbourne.

‘She has done what the rules require. Anika Wells is a very good minister doing extraordinary work.’

Source: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15800399/Labor-politician-Anika-Wells-ordered-repay-taxpayers-thousands-dollars-travel-claims.html