Prime Minister to pay back incorrectly claimed travel allowance

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wrongly pocketed more than $1000 in travel allowances when he visited indigenous communities in South Australia.

Mr Turnbull is set to pay back the costs, according to reports in The West Australian, after inquiries about why the allowance had been claimed for accommodation that was free.

The newpaper reports finance department expenditure reports show the prime minister claimed $1,130 in accommodation expenses for two nights when he visited Umuwa and Scotdesco in South Australia on October 30 and 31 2016.

It was confirmed by a spokesman for the SA State Development Department that the PM had "stayed in accommodation owned by the State Government at Umuwa on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankuny-tjatjara Lands”.

“Following a request from Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet an invoice is being issued for the cost of the accommodation,” he said.

“The request for invoice was on Tuesday 29 August, 2017.”

However, according to The West Australian, despite claiming $565 for each night, the cost for accommodating four people was $360.

Mr Turnbull's spokesperson told the newspaper: “The Prime Minister’s Office acted within the rules at all times.”

The visit was part of a three-day trip through regional and remote Australia talking about the cashless welfare card.