Jacinta Allan has revealed the destination of her first overseas trip as Victorian premier, as the taxpayer-funded travel of MPs faces scrutiny.
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While Victorians tightened their belts last financial year, state MPs were paid $204,660 for overseas trips and $287,013 for domestic travel.
Victorian MPs are allowed to claim reimbursement from parliament to cover the cost of international travel undertaken to "perform their public duties".
Under the international travel allowance set by an independent remuneration tribunal, each MP can claim up to $10,080 a year as long as they submit a quarterly budget.
The records show opposition arts spokesman and Liberal MP David Davis invoiced taxpayers almost $10,000 for a European tour.
He flew to Thessaloniki, Athens, Crete, Milan, Paris and London to "meet government, regional, municipal and gallery officials".
First-term Liberal MP Wayne Farnham claimed $3340 for travel from Melbourne to Thailand as part of a study tour to review the impacts of legalised cannabis, including meeting with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and consular officials.
Labor MP Lee Tarlamis submitted bills of almost $7000 and $5000 for separate trips to India last year to "strengthen the relationship between Victoria and India".
In a travel report on his nine-day trip last February, which included a visit to the Taj Mahal, Mr Tarlamis noted his upper house electorate has the largest Indian population in Victoria.
Mr Tarlamis' Labor colleagues Matt Fregon, Meng Heang Tak and Dylan Wight accompanied him on the trip.
It wasn't just members from the major parties who partook in taxpayer-funded overseas travel.
Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell spent $4030 on return flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles to meet with kangaroo advocacy groups and other animal welfare organisations.
She said the "busy" trip was relevant to issues and policy areas relevant to her electorate.
"I completely understand there's concerns around politicians going on these trips in a cost-of-living crisis using taxpayer money," Ms Purcell told reporters at parliament on Wednesday.
"That's why it's so important we take it seriously and ensure it actually benefits our work."
The premier passed the buck when asked if the international travel allowance should be available to backbenchers.
"There is an independent process that sits over the decisions around members of parliament's allowances and rates of pay. That's what it should be," Ms Allan said.
"We all have a responsibility that should we choose to take up those allowances, we need to do it responsibly."
Ms Allan, who was among regional MPs to share in $327,028 in 2022/23 to cover the cost of renting or owning a home in Melbourne, confirmed she would visit India later this year in her first overseas trip as premier.
"It's a source of great pride that many, many people from India and the broader subcontinent choose Victoria, choose Melbourne as their home," Ms Allan said.
"We have deep cultural relationships, historic relationships with India and also too they are one of one of our biggest and most important trading partners."
Her predecessor Daniel Andrews visited India in 2018 and made seven trips to China during his almost nine-year tenure as Victorian premier.
Australian Associated Press
