Part of Speaker Michael Atkinson’s response to Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s report.
Source: Supplied
THE PUBLIC’S “worst suspicions” about taxpayer-funded travel had been confirmed by a senior MP submitting only a “six sentence” summary of her trip to New Zealand, Speaker Michael Atkinson says.
Mr Atkinson attacked Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s trip report in a hand written note on her statement presented for tabling in Parliament late last month, which described her travel for a legal conference titled “Surveillance versus privacy’’.
The Speaker’s acknowledgment that the report confirmed public cynicism about taxpayer funding for international travel, related to a trip for five days and nights last September.
The World Bar Conference was held at the south island holiday playground of Queenstown, famed for its mountain scenery, skiing, water sports and bungee jumping.
“This is a travel report of six sentences. It mocks the … requirements of parliamentary travel and confirms the worst suspicions the public have about such travel,’’ Mr Atkinson wrote before accepting the report last month.
“Nevertheless it is for the public to assess this report, not the Speaker.’’
The report was only one of 28 lodged by non-ministerial MPs in 2015 and 2014 describing overseas travel, which in total costs the taxpayer around $500,000 each year.
In her response to Mr Atkinson’s criticism, Ms Chapman acknowledged the public may not find the topic of the trip “either important or interesting’’ but she found the speakers “informative” and “entertaining”.
The cost of the trip was not declared, but the conference website states registration was NZ$1375 ($1350) including a “gala dinner”. Attendees had discount room rates via “run of house at the Heritage Hotel Queenstown” which normally charges room rates ranging from NZ$193.
Talks at the conference included: “Surveillance versus privacy: the balance between the State, the Fourth Estate, the citizen and the rule of law” and “International investment treaties: balancing national sovereignty and investor protection’’.
Ms Chapman could not be contacted yesterday but defended the travel both in the original report and in a response to Mr Atkinson’s hand written note, stating that the conference had been important for her work as the then Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman.
“While I appreciate the general public may not find legal lectures to be either important or interesting I am quite happy to make available copies of any papers provided upon request,’’ she stated in her response to Mr Atkinson’s note.
“As you will see from the agenda outlined in my report there was an incredible array of excellent speakers and I found their contribution to be informative. Some were also entertaining.’’
Mr Atkinson also corrected two typographical errors in Ms Chapman’s report in his written response, but incorrectly dated is response as the 12th of May this year.
MPs must justify their travel on return to South Australia, and some examples of Mr Atkinson’s reports run over 60 pages. Ms Chapman’s report, which ran to three pages, included six sentences of “objectives”, a daily schedule and six sentences in “summary”.
Mr Atkinson’s numerous trips as a minister in the previous Labor government are not reported on the same Parliamentary website as the trip by Ms Chapman, but on the site are reports on trips to Singapore, Vietnam, UK, Poland, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece twice, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine, and Ethiopia.
In 2011, Ms Chapman used a photograph of herself with one of the Galápagos Islands’ famous tortoises to illustrate her travel report.
Ms Chapman’s report did not include any description of recreational activities while in Queenstown, but the conference website states: “Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four-season lake and alpine resort.
“Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu,
Queenstown’s stunning scenery is inspiring and revitalising.
“With a wealth of activities to thrill and exhilarate, inspire and motivate, there is no end to the possibilities. Alternatively you can take time out and relax, take in the scenery and partake in tasting some world-class wines straight from source.
“Queenstown is an adventure destination capable of entertaining any enthusiast with skiing, horse trekking, mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, walking and golf to name a few — whatever you need, Queenstown is waiting for you!’’
Speaker Michael Atkinson attacks Liberal MP Vickie Chapman’s brief report on trip to NZ resort town
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