Communications minister Anika Wells repays $10,000 in incorrect travel expenses

Anthony Albanese rejects calls for Wells to resign over the breaches, saying she had done the right thing and had also apologised Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The federal communications minister, Anika Wells, has repaid more than $10,000 for incorrect travel claims, identified amid controversy about her use of taxpayer-funded entitlements. In a statement released on Friday, Wells said an audit by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority identified four mistakes in her claims dating back to Labor’s 2022 election victory, worth a combined $8,092.89. As a result she has repaid $10,116.11, including a 25% penalty loading for incorrect claims. Wells’ official travel sparked a firestorm of criticism in late 2025, after it emerged she spent more than $100,000 to fly with a staffer to New York to promote the government’s social media ban for under 16s at a United Nations event. Wells faced weeks of criticism and media scrutiny about her use of taxpayer funds for official travel and family reunion entitlements, including to attend major sporting events such as the AFL grand final and Formula One ra