By BEN CAMERON
MEMBER for Gembrook Brad Battin has defended claims from his Labor opponent that he wasted taxpayers’ money on overseas travel to attend a conservative think tank in London last year.
Parliamentary reports reveal Mr Battin attended an International Democratic Union Young Leaders Forum in London of which John Howard is the current chairman.
The IDU calls itself “a working association of over 80 conservative, Christian Democrat and like-minded political parties”.
Mr Battin wrote in his parliamentary report the UK conference was important for establishing connections with other parliaments and paid for all expenses during his stay apart from economy level flights.
He also went on a 19-day study tour of the US in March and April last year – including trips to New York, Washington DC, Denver and Los Angeles – and a 13-day trip to Japan in February 2012.
However, Labor candidate for Gembrook Collin Ross questioned why Mr Battin had not made his trips more public.
“Brad loves being on Twitter and Facebook. I can’t find any pictures of any of these trips,” he said.
“Even as a backbencher in the seat of Gembrook, I struggle to believe that most of that information couldn’t be gathered by sourcing it out.
“Unless I was a minister … I really don’t see any reason you should have to (go).
“As a backbencher I wouldn’t go overseas in my first four years.
“How that benefits the people of Gembrook, I don’t know.
“There is nothing we can’t get off the internet.”
However, Mr Battin said his flights were claimed through parliamentary guidelines.
“I’m never one to say no to travel, but you’ve got to have a reasonable justification for it,” he said.
“As long as there’s something that’s a reasonable outcome for it, I think you should discourage it.
“All the funding is paid for by myself over there, it’s only the flight that’s covered, an economy return flight which is covered for any of the studies I’ve done.
“I’ve never claimed anything while I’ve been over there. I think it’s important we do look around the world for opportunities to improve ourselves.
“I have mentioned them previously … there’s nothing there to hide.”
Mr Battin attended the London conference with two other Liberal Party members including Member for Eastern Victoria Region Ed O’Donohue who told the Gazette he did not claim expenses assoicated with the conference.
Mr Battin estimated all three trips cost no more than $5000.
“I can’t recall now but the Japanese trip was under $1000,” he said.
“I’m a tight arse when it comes to these things, I try to find the cheapest option available.”
Legislative Assembly Speaker Christine Fyffe said all members are entitled to seek reimbursement for their air travel where the travel is used primarily for parliamentary purposes but would not reveal financial details of Mr Battin’s travel claims.
