The watchdog for parliamentary expenses is refusing to release information about staff travel relating to Vikki Campion, the one-time adviser and now partner of former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, claiming doing so could “endanger life”.
A Freedom of Information request lodged by The West Australian sought a breakdown of staff travel for the offices of Senator Matt Canavan and MP Damian Drum, where Ms Campion was employed after she was shifted from Mr Joyce’s office. However, the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority has refused to release any details of staff in those offices.
The authority claims that the release of the information would have the consequence of “endangering the life or physical safety” of the staff involved, or individuals associated.
Petra Gartmann, the authorised decision maker for the Freedom of Information request, said that given the “public profile and frequent…
