Labor politician Anika Wells ordered to repay taxpayers thousands of dollars on travel claims

By PAUL SHAPIRO, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:45, 8 May 2026 | Updated: 03:55, 8 May 2026 Embattled communications Minister Anika Wells has been ordered to pay back taxpayers thousands of dollars after a months-long investigation into her travel scandal. Wells apologised on Friday morning for four trips she took on the taxpayers' coin which were against the rules for federal politicians. The Communications and Sports Minister repaid the taxpayer-funded jaunts after 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 [Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority] assessment and I am sorry for making these honest mistakes. I have repaid the money with a penalty loading.' The four trips that did not meet the requirements were related to family reunion travel provisions that did not meet the rules.  Since December, Wells has been at the centre of a scandal after it was revealed she blew $190,000 on a trip to New York to trumpet the government's controversial social media ban. The expenses watchdog found her travel to New York and costs were within the rules for parliamentary travel.  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 However, it found four trips were outside the rule, with the minister forced to repay $10,116 that includes a 25 per cent penalty loading.  Wells spent $9000 to fly her husband, Finn McCarthy, to three AFL grand finals, all on the taxpayer's coin. Wells charged taxpayers almost $1000 for a chauffeur for seven hours the day she attended the Australian Open in 2023 and more than $1200 for nine hours the day of the NRL and NRLW grand finals in 2022, according to the parliamentary expenses register. The minister had her electorate office fitted with a secure communications facility in October 2024 when she was Sports and Aged Care Minister, despite a similar room being about a 20-minute drive away. 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. The minister has not been seen publicly at any major sporting events since the taxpayer jaunts scandal broke.  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.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.