Katharine Murphy , deputy political editor

theguardian.com, Monday 7 October 201

Prime minister has repaid more than $1,700 in travel costs claimed to attend weddings of two party colleagues

Peter Slipper and his wife, Inge. Photograph: DAVE HUNT/AAPIMAGE

The prime minister has repaid more than $1,700 in travel entitlements after controversy erupted over MPs using taxpayer-funded benefits to attend private functions, such as weddings.

Tony Abbott acknowledged in Bali on Monday that he had repaid expenses relating to the wedding of his friend and former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella in 2006.

He justified claiming the $1094.64 travel entitlement on the basis he was then leader of the House of Representatives, and that position required “certain representational roles”.

After the Bali press conference, Abbott’s office confirmed that the prime minister had also paid back $609.10 worth of expenses he claimed to attend the 2006 nuptials of Peter Slipper, the former Liberal turned independent.

Slipper, a former House of Representatives Speaker recruited by Labor in the 43rd parliament, is facing court proceedings over his use of travel entitlements. The Coalition was publicly critical of Slipper’s alleged activities after his defection to the crossbench.

Abbott on Monday said he believed the claims he made in 2006 were within the rules of the entitlements scheme, but advice from the Department of Finance was “unclear” – so he reimbursed the taxpayer. He said he had been prompted to check the record after reports emerged about Liberal frontbenchers attending the wedding of a Sydney radio host, and subsequently claiming travel expenses.

The prime minister urged his parliamentary colleagues to remain within the rules of the entitlements scheme. If there were mistakes or grey areas, Abbott said, then “clear it up as soon as possible”.

National Barnaby Joyce, the Liberal deputy leader, Julie Bishop, and backbencher Teresa Gambaro also claimed taxpayer-funded travel entitlements after mining billionaire Gina Rinehart flew them to a lavish Indian wedding in 2011, according to Fairfax reports.

Joyce reasoned during a radio interview on Monday that he was within the rules concerning overseas study tours for MPs, and Rinehart had actually saved the taxpayer money. “If someone else wants to pay half a trip, pay for it privately, which is basically what Gina Rinehart did, then it’s actually made it cheaper for the taxpayer,” Joyce said.

The Greens are pledging to use the resumption of parliament to introduce a bill for a national integrity commissioner and independent parliamentary adviser to clear up ambiguities around travel entitlements.

“The next wedding charged to the taxpayer should be an iron-clad marriage between elected public office and accountability with a national integrity commissioner,” the Greens leader, Christine Milne, said in a statement on Monday.

“The Greens have had legislation before the last parliament to clean up MPs’ entitlements with a national integrity commissioner but Labor and the Coalition refused to act. This scandal has reached the highest political office in the country and must end now,” she said.

“The Greens will move our integrity legislation again as soon as parliament returns.”

Tony Abbott paid back money claimed for Peter Slipper's wedding | World news | theguardian.com