International travel itineraries obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information requests have revealed the eye-watering travel costs of the Government’s gender ambassador.
Over the last 15 months, the government’s Ambassador for Gender Equality has travelled to 24 different countries, including to the United States five times and Fiji four times, costing the taxpayer over $335,000.
Opposition waste spokesman, James Stevens, said that “Labor has spent $335,000 flying someone around the globe to do exactly what the more than100 ambassadors we already have should be doing.
"There is important progress to be made on gender equality,but this role seems to involve a lot of time sitting in airport lounges and on international business class flights, at great cost to the taxpayer.
“Together, the ambassadors for climate change, First Nations people and gender have spent almost $750,000 of taxpayers’ funds on international travel alone.
"If Anthony Albanese is so confident that our Ambassador to America is doing his job, he must explain why his gender ambassador has been to America five times in 15 months.
"We support genuine and necessary international engagement on the important issue of gender equality,” Mr Stevens said.
