Suspended MP Geoff Shaw wanted taxpayers to fund a trip to Paris where he could propose to his partner and then get married in London, Parliament has heard.
Mr Shaw, who is suspended from Parliament, is banned from using taxpayer funded travel during his suspension.
Responding to Labor questions about travel entitlement advice, Tourism Minister Louise Asher told Parliament that she had discussed travel entitlements with Mr Shaw but denied ever telling him to manipulate those rules.
She said Mr Shaw made an inquiry with the Agent-General in London about getting married in the British capital.
“The Agent-General subsequently advised the member for Frankston that it was very difficult for an Australian to get married in London,’’ Ms Asher said.
She said she was also advised that Mr Shaw had wanted to travel to Paris to propose to his partner.
“It is no wonder… that one of terms of the motion that was before the house was to in fact prohibit the Member for Frankston from taking taxpayer-funded travel internationally while he was suspended,” she said.
Ms Asher denied categorically that she had ever advised MPs to manipulate travel rules.
