The embattled defence minister, David Johnston, has rejected claims he acted outside his parliamentary entitlements, after receipts of expensive meals were leaked to the media.
News Ltd reported that Johnston spent thousands of dollars in entertaining industry leaders and foreign dignitaries, sometimes with $300-a-head meals and $200 bottles of wine.
Johnston was bombarded by opposition questions on the matter during Senate question time and said he was happy to discuss the issue and put the facts on the record.
“[My behaviour] has been within guideline and is consistent with previous Labor defence ministers,” Johnston said.
The defence minister said he never upgraded his travel arrangements for work-related travel, and insisted that “all travel has been entirely within entitlement”.
Labor senator Doug Cameron asked Johnston if his “taxpayer-funded fine dining tour” was an attempt to become a food and wine critic once Johnston had been “reshuffled out of the cabinet”.
Johnston has been under intense pressure since he cast doubt on the abilities of a government-backed submarine maker, saying he didn’t trust ASC “to build a canoe”. The Senate censured Johnston over the slur, the first time a cabinet minister has been reprimanded by the chamber since 2005.
Labor has levelled accusations of chaos and dysfunction within Johnston’s office following the leak of the expense documents.
An investigation is under way as to how the receipts ended up in the hands of journalists, amid reports that several of Johnston’s staff members were sacked.
“I will not comment publicly on staffing matters,” Johnston said. “The Department of Defence is investigating the source of material that was published and as such, it is inappropriate for me to comment.” He added: “I require the highest level of probity and secure information within in my office.”
The government Senate leader, Eric Abetz, backed both the defence minister and the sidelined assistant treasurer, Arthur Sinodinos, whose ministerial position remains vacant until an Icac inquiry into his business dealings is complete. “Both gentlemen are committed to the service of our nation,” Abetz said.
The prime minister also threw his support behind Johnston and Sinodinos in question time in the House. “[Johnston] has my full confidence. He deserves the full support of this parliament,” Tony Abbott said.
