FLORIDA: Mr. Ruddock described on his Finance Department form as chief whip official business, he claimed $1876 in travelling allowance, $157 on Comcars and $357 on other car costs.
Taxpayers forked out $8800 last year for veteran Liberal MP Philip Ruddock and his wife to travel to Perth for a work trip that included a Hollywood themed ball. The figures are revealed in Mr Ruddock’s parliamentary entitlements report for July to December 2014.
Mr. Ruddock and wife Heather flew commercially from Sydney to Perth on September 6, at a total return flight cost of $6400.The couple attended a ball hosted by the West Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce along with 700 guests.
The ball, held at Crown Perth, was described in the West Australian newspaper at the time as “a touch of exotic Hollywood glamour”. Top priced tickets were $5500 for a table of 10.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott delivered a “special address” to the ball via video link and the audience was entertained by “tributes to Hollywood of the 40s and, of course, exciting Chinese traditions of dance and spectacle.
