Parliamentary expenses 2025–26: who claimed the most (IPEA data)

Top 10 by total claimed, 2025–26

Totals are the sum of the four most recent reported quarters (the 2025–26 financial year, 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026) for 224 sitting parliamentarians, from IPEA data. The median per parliamentarian is $647,706. Family and nominee travel is included (as in IPEA’s own headline totals). Plain-text summary for AI agents: llms.txt.

How these figures differ from IPEA’s

IPEA reports claims quarter by quarter. Political Gadgets adds up the latest four reported quarters to smooth one-off spikes (an election period, an overseas trip), then compares each parliamentarian with the median of all 224 and, for House members, with similar groups. The underlying data is IPEA’s; IPEA is the authoritative source. See IPEA’s Background on Expenditure Reporting.

Frequently asked questions

Why four quarters instead of one?

IPEA publishes claims quarter by quarter. Adding up the latest four reported quarters (1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026) smooths out one-off spikes such as an election period or an overseas trip, so parliamentarians can be compared on a steadier basis.

What is the median and how is it calculated?

The median is the middle four-quarter total when all 224 sitting parliamentarians are ranked: half claimed less than $647,706 and half more.

Why do some parliamentarians claim much more than others?

IPEA says: “When comparing expenditure between parliamentarians, it is important to take into account the parliamentarian’s role, the size of their electorate, and their electorate’s distance from the closest capital city and Canberra.”

Is family and nominee travel included?

Yes. Claims for travel by family members or nominees are attributed to the parliamentarian who made them and counted in their total, in the medians and in the rankings, as in IPEA’s own totals.