The latest travel details of ACT politicians have been revealed, showing Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury opted for a bus over a plane and Canberra taxpayers paid just $8.22 for Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne's trip to Bangladesh.
Last year ACT taxpayers helped send the territory's globe-trotting politicians to 14 countries and four continents, including Malta, the Cook Islands and Canada.
While many trips appear to have been flown in business class, one minister chose to eschew a plane all together, taking the bus instead.
Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury declined a return flight between Canberra and Sydney, instead opting for an $80 two-way bus trip.
Figures released for the second half of 2017 show Chief Minister Andrew Barr covered the most miles, heading to China, the United States, Germany, Spain and New Zealand — at a total cost of more than $43,000.
Planning Minister Mick Gentleman racked up about half that, mostly through a European trip, which included a luxury Prague dinner.
Over the course of last year, ministerial travel totalled almost $170,000, substantially more than in any year since reporting requirements changed in 2014.
Costs to taxpayers vary wildly
Non-executive members — such as backbenchers and Opposition MLAs — also travelled interstate and overseas last year, mostly on committee business and as part of "interparliamentary delegations".
The latter takes place under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which subsidises some of the travel.
That means costs to ACT taxpayers can vary wildly.
For the same trip last year to Bangladesh, taxpayers stumped up almost $3,000 for Labor backbencher Chris Steel and just $8.22 for Liberal Vicki Dunne, who sits on the executive committee.
In total throughout 2017, non-executive members spent nearly $50,000, with the most expensive trips coming from Labor's Bec Cody and the Liberals' Elizabeth Kikkert heading to Canada for a combined $14,000.
