Taxpayers fork out almost $35,000 for MPs to stay at Queensland parliament

Budget estimates hearings revealed 191 overnight stays were reported last financial year, compared to just 39 the previous year. The tax bill for the stays was almost $35,000 last financial year, up from just over $7,000 the year before. It was also revealed the parliamentary dining room opening hours had been extended to outside of sitting weeks under the LNP government. Queensland taxpayers forked out almost $35,000 last financial year for state politicians to stay overnight at parliament. Budget estimates hearings revealed 191 total overnight stays were reported last financial year, compared to just 39 the previous year. Members of Parliament are permitted to use accommodation at the parliamentary annexe for personal use, but such stays trigger fringe benefits tax. The tax bill for the stays was almost $35,000 last financial year, up from just over $7,000 in the previous year. There were 33 members who reported overnight stays, up from 13 in the 2024-25 financial year. One MP reported 36 stays, while the next highest reported 20. The identities of the members were kept confidential for personal reasons. It was also revealed during estimates that the parliamentary dining room opening hours had been extended to outside of sitting weeks under the LNP government. The cost to the taxpayer as a result was around $56,000 last financial year. Clerk of the parliament Neil Laurie said the decision to extend the dining room's hours was "primarily motivated" by the fact that there was a "much, much larger component" of regional ministers who are in Brisbane when parliament is not sitting. Reluctance to identify MPs The Labor opposition asked parliamentary speaker Pat Weir if he would release a breakdown of the overnight stays reported by parties. "I would be very reluctant to do that," Mr Weir told the estimates hearing. "We have had instances where we have had members that have significant challenges in their lives that have stayed at this parliament. "I have no intention to go any further than where we are." Mr Laurie echoed the speaker's sentiment. "We don't treat members party by party here and I don't want to start a slippery slope where we're treating members according to party rather than according to the fact that they're members," Mr Laurie said. "I just don't want to go there, and I don't think anyone should." Mr Laurie suggested it was unhelpful to attempt to assess the fringe benefits tax bill on an annual basis. "I would say you don't look at a year in isolation. You look at a year in the context of a longer period of time, like 10 years."