Reading this story they seem to build up a big bank number by quoting what looks to be a legitimate expense - 100K trip to the US with 3 staff for a UN meeting.

They then list some fairly piddly little costs of one or two K for family travel costs that pass the rules. Maybe we don't like this - BUT ?

Overall she may be stretching the point but really nothing much seems to be here.

I don't think that a sports minister being invited to sporting events is much of a surprise.

If a Minister is invited to a sports fixture - is it necessary to stay for the five day Test and bring hubby along as well? Does she love cricket that much?  And what about doing her day job instead of moonlighting all the time?

Ball's chat.

“ Sports Minister Anika Wells spent close to $9000 of taxpayers’ money on family reunion flights and travel entitlements so her husband could attend three AFL grand finals with her.

Wells and her husband, Finn McCarthy, attended the three grand finals as guests of the AFL, according to declarations on the minister’s register of interests and Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority data.”

“SMH

Should I start a second thread on Anika wells rorts, corruption and thievery?

Because she’s still got so much more to come it seems.

Just when you think our politicians have reached their very lowest.

Another Anika wells taxpayer funded scam is exposed!

An opinion today:

Ley shopped, Wells worked — guess who the Libs attack?
Sussan Ley literally resigned after charging taxpayers for trips that doubled as property shopping sprees, yet the Liberals now howl about Anika Wells for travel that was within the rules. The hypocrisy is staggering.
🔍 SUSSAN LEY’S TRAVEL RORTS
• Gold Coast apartment scandal: In 2015, Ley used taxpayer-funded travel to Queensland, where she impulsively bought a $795,000 apartment from a Liberal donor. She claimed $3,125 for that trip.
• Pattern of trips: Over three years, she billed taxpayers for 18 Gold Coast trips costing $53,877.
• Resignation: Ley admitted her actions didn’t pass the “pub test” and resigned as Health Minister in 2017, despite most claims technically being “within the rules”.
• Voluntary repayments: She repaid some expenses but only after public outrage forced her hand.
🔍 ANIKA WELLS’S ALLEGED MISUSE
• Thredbo ski trip: Wells spent ~$3,000 so her family could join her while she attended a Paralympics event. This was allowed under “family reunion” rules.
• New York trip: Nearly $100,000 spent on flights for her and staff to promote Australia’s social media ban at the UN. Again, fully within guidelines and approved by the PM’s office. Wells was forced to book more expensive flights at short notice when having to deal with the 000 outage fallout prevented her flying to New York with the PM.
• Other claims: Trips to Adelaide (where she also attended a friend’s birthday), Paris for sporting events, and family flights to cricket and Formula One. All technically within entitlements.
• No resignation: Wells has defended her travel as legitimate ministerial work, and Albanese backed her, stressing compliance with rules.
⚖️ THE HYPOCRISY
• Ley vs Wells: Ley’s scandal involved personal property shopping on taxpayer-funded trips — a clear breach of community standards that forced her resignation. Wells’s travel, while politically damaging optics-wise, was within entitlements and tied to ministerial duties.
• Liberal outrage: Despite Ley’s own history, Liberal figures like Ley herself now attack Wells as “Air-Miles Anika”. The irony of a former minister who resigned over rorts leading the charge against Wells is impossible to ignore.
• Double standards: When it’s a Liberal caught misusing travel, they plead “within the rules” until resignation is unavoidable. When it’s Labor, they demand heads roll even if the travel is rule-compliant.


Yes, there is hypocrisy - and yes, the travel is rule compliant BUT $100K to spruik about Australia’s actions in enforcing social media bans that under 16 year olds are already telling all and sundry how to get around them DOES NOT pass the pub test either!     These "rule-compliant” and “family re-union” rorts need to be looked at.

Just as an aside, when I was with Defence in Darwin and my Wife was in Melbourne, we were allowed 4 “family reunion” visits per year where I could go to her, or She to Me.   The airfares HAD to be the best deal of the day - so you could be flying out of either place on a Red-Eye with Jetstar.  Pollies are SUPPOSED to use this as well

Dnarever wrote on Dec 8^th, 2025 at 9:28am:


The actual amount in question is about $3 or $4 k extra to bring her partner with her ... but that doesn't make great headlines

lee wrote on Dec 8^th, 2025 at 5:33pm:


don't judge everyone by your experiences

Daves2017 wrote on Dec 8^th, 2025 at 7:01pm:


they should use microsoft teams and video conference

John Smith wrote on Dec 8^th, 2025 at 7:08pm:


Another excellent idea.

Worked fine during Covid?

I’m just trying to find a positive solution.

If the united nations ask Anika wells ( aka the Banyo Bandit) to fly to NY and give a  speech.

They should pay for it not us mugs.

If the AFL invited her to the grand final then they should cover her  outrageous expenses?

If there is no definitive evidence that  these invites are of benefit to the Australian taxpayer we should not pay and the invitee and sponsors should wear the costs.

I can imagine  that suddenly the invitees would stop being sent out very quickly!