Queensland Nationals MP George Christensen has referred his travel expense claims to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for personal trips to the Philippines but said he is confident his travel was within the rules.
The MP for the seat of Dawson near Mackay funded his own trips but still billed taxpayers around 3000 dollars for connecting domestic flights.
News Corp reported Mr Christensen made 28 trips to the Philippines spanning 294 days across the last 4 years, with some colleagues now calling him the ‘member for Manila’.
His travel records show the MP, who prides himself on representing northern Australia’s interests, missed 8 of 27 public hearings held for the 2014 parliamentary inquiry into economic development in the Top End.