Embattled former minister Sussan Ley charged taxpayers $13K to pilot flights
Embattled Health Minister Sussan Ley's use of taxpayer funding is again under fire following revelations she spent $13,000 to pilot private planes along busy capital city routes.
Fairfax reports Ms Ley, who is a licensed commercial pilot, charged $6300 to fly from Canberra to Melbourne in July 2014 and another $7000 to travel from Canberra to Adelaide in May 2015.
More questions have been raised about the Health Minister Sussan Ley's taxpayer-funded trips to the Gold Coast. Source: AAP
Ms Ley's social media accounts indicate she was in the cockpit, Fairfax says.
According to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority guidelines, commercial pilots must fly three flights every 90 days to maintain their licences.
Ms Ley stood aside as the Health Minister on Monday after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered an investigation into her travel claims by the head of his department.
She insists she's broken no rules.
It follows revelations she bought a $795,000 apartment from a Liberal National Party donor during a tax-payer funded trip to the Gold Coast.
Government documents also show Ms Ley spent more than $1000 on flights to and from Coolangatta between September 5 and September 8.
The Opposition says Ms Ley's behaviour warrants a resignation rom the ministry. Source: AAP
She also claimed car costs of $271 and a travel allowance of $720 during that time but it's unclear what official business she conducted on the trip.
A spokesman for Ms Ley said it would be "quite improper" to comment on the latest allegations.
"It's actually out of her hands," he told AAP.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has ordered an investigation into the embattled minister's travel claims by the secretary of his department Martin Parkinson, insisting she will forgo ministerial pay until it's complete.
"I expect the highest standards from my ministers in all aspects of their conduct, and especially the expenditure of public money," Mr Turnbull said in a statement on Monday.
Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos has stepped in as acting Health Minister.
Today's top news stories- January 10
