• Far-right Queensland senator Fraser Anning spent more taxpayer money on flights for his family than any other politician in 2018, according to newly released data seen by The Age.
• Anning also spent more on staff travel than any MP that doesn’t hold a ministerial or shadow ministerial position.
• The senator previously railed against government spending during his maiden address to parliament.

Far-right Queensland senator Fraser Anning spent more taxpayer money on flights for his family than any other politician last year, The Age reports.

The senator, who railed against about government spending in his maiden address to parliament, spent more on staff travel than any MP that doesn’t hold a ministerial or shadow ministerial role, according to the report.

Data from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority reviewed by The Age shows the only two politicians in Canberra that spent more on “family reunion” travel” were Mathias Cormann and Melissa Price from Western Australia. MPs are entitled to this type of travel.

According to the report, Anning spent $34,672 on 44 trips for his family last year.

The Queensland senator has come under fire in recent days for his inflammatory comments in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shooting and his decision to punch a 17-year-old after the boy cracked an egg on his head.

The event occurred at a far-right rally in Melbourne, a city he has previously billed taxpayers $2,800 for so he could attend far-right events.

Anning has been a controversial figure in Australian politics since he was elected to the senate despite receiving just 19 votes in the 2016 election.

As the third candidate on One Nation’s Queensland ticket, Anning made it to the Senate after Malcolm Roberts was disqualified for having dual citizenship.

Anning left One Nation and joined Bob Katter’s Australia Party in time to deliver his maiden speech, where he railed against immigration and government spending on welfare.

“In truth, it appears that many of those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually just welfare seekers who only come to Australia to live on welfare in public housing at the expense of working Australians,” said Anning, who also referenced a “final solution” to Australia’s immigration problem.

After initially describing Anning’s speech as “solid gold” and supporting him “1000%,” Katter later expelled Anning from the party. He now sits as an independent.

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