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Victorian Premier and 17 other regional MPs claim taxpayer-funded allowances for Melbourne residences

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Victorian MPs’ Second Residence Allowances: Claims and Context

A number of regional Victorian MPs, including Premier Jacinta Allan, claim parliamentary allowances to maintain second residences in Melbourne for their parliamentary duties.

The allowance is provided to MPs whose primary residence is more than 80 kilometers from Parliament House. It can be used to maintain owned or rented properties instead of claiming hotel expenses.

For long-serving MPs, cumulative allowance claims can exceed the original purchase price of their properties.

Allowance Claims

Disclosures, required since 2019, show the following claims:

  • Premier Jacinta Allan (Bendigo East) receives $56,000 annually and has claimed $291,146.90 since 2019 for a CBD apartment purchased for $319,000 in 2005.
  • Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has claimed approximately $132,000 this parliamentary term for a Collingwood apartment.
  • Nationals leader Danny O'Brien has claimed approximately $103,000 since late 2022 for a CBD apartment.
  • Liberal MP Wendy Lovell has claimed approximately $132,000 this term, the highest among Liberal MPs.
  • Former health minister Mary-Anne Thomas has claimed a similar amount for residences in Carlton North and Northcote.

Background and Oversight

The requirement for allowance disclosures was introduced following an expenses scandal involving two Labor MPs. The Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal was subsequently established to oversee parliamentary allowances.

Statements from MPs and Spokespeople

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell stated the allowance makes parliamentary roles accessible to people from diverse backgrounds and provides consistency compared to hotel stays. Purcell sold her CBD apartment in late 2023 and now claims the allowance for a rental property shared with federal MP Josh Burns.

  • A Victorian government spokesperson said all regional MPs receive the allowance and must act within specified guidelines.
  • An opposition spokesperson said all allowance claims are made consistent with parliamentary guidelines.

Additional Information

  • Premier Allan's base salary is $512,000.
  • Property records show an active mortgage on Premier Allan's CBD unit.
  • Premier Allan's husband purchased a neighboring unit in 2024, for which the couple receives rental income without public funds.