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Morrison, Robert join expenses storm

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert have become embroiled in the government's expenses scandal.

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Source: AAP


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The federal government expenses scandal has worsened, with Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert the latest to repay taxpayer funds for attending a colleague's wedding.

Fairfax Media reports six members of the front bench including Prime Minister Tony Abbott are now known to have made publicly funded trips that have been questioned.

Fairfax says only a quarter of around $16,000 in wedding expense claims has been refunded.

Senior minister Julie Bishop said on Friday there was a "very grey area" between work and play for travel expense claims as she defended charging taxpayers to attend a wedding in India.

Ms Bishop claimed $3445 to return from the lavish wedding in Hyderabad in 2011, but says she sought and received prior approval.

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Coalition colleagues Barnaby Joyce and Teresa Gambaro also went after being invited by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, and collectively the three claimed more than $12,000 in overseas study allowances.

Ms Bishop said the wedding, attended by 10,000 people, was more like a "high-powered gathering" of significant Indian business and political leaders and could hardly be described as a social event.

Mr Morrison, who opposed the Gillard government flying asylum seekers to the funerals of family members drowned at sea, said his claim was an honest mistake.

He explained the slip-up in a letter to Macquarie Radio host Ray Hadley, in which he said he "incorrectly and inadvertently claimed one night's travel allowance in October 2011".

On Friday, Mr Morrison repaid $354 to the Department of Finance.

Fairfax says Mr Robert also claimed $354 for the same night's accommodation, which had also been paid back.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann on Saturday denied there was a culture of misusing entitlements among coalition ranks, saying mistakes happened across the political divide.

It was appropriate the new government was being scrutinised and that politicians on both sides of parliament were checking their claims, he added.

"Whenever something becomes apparent everybody goes through their records to make sure that everything is up to scratch," he told Sky News.

"As long as when mistakes become apparent they're corrected, that is the appropriate course of action."


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