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1 year ago
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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has yet again dipped into tax-payer funds as he made a 2,000km round-tip in India to watch Australia win the ODI world cup.
The Minister for Defence is currently in the nation's capital, New Delhi, alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong to co-chair the 2nd 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
However, Mr Marles travelled from New Delhi to Ahmedabad, about 1,000km south-west, for a six-hour turnaround to be in attendance for the ODI world cup final between the two nations on Sunday night.
The minister watched from the the stands at the Narendra Modi Stadium as Australia snatched the title from the home-side by six wickets.
He was even on the podium alongside Prime Minister Modi to present the Australian captain, Pat Cummins, with the winner's trophy.
'Great to have our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence at the #INDvsAUS #CricketWorldCupFinal this evening,' High Commissioner Philip Green posted on social media as he shared a selfie of the two
The trip adds to the $3.6million bill Mr Marles has charged taxpayers just this year, according to News.com.
But an official breakdown of the flight costs may never be made public, as his department continues to cite 'security concerns' as the reason the information is being withheld.
'Great to have our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence at the #INDvsAUS #CricketWorldCupFinal this evening,' High Commissioner Philip Green posted on social media as he shared a selfie of the two.
Mr Marles was previously criticised after taking an RAAF flight to watch the Matildas World Cup semi-final match in August costing an estimated $16,000.
He had been in Brisbane on the day of the match to attend several press events before getting on board a VIP flight to Sydney to catch the game.
The minister was more recently revealed to have used tax-payer funds to pay $350 for breakfasts and laundry during a $2000 stay at a Washington DC hotel in December.
Mr Marles presented Australia's captain Pat Cummins with the championship trophy
He spent $80USD ($115AUD) on a single breakfast and $253AUD on laundry, more than the average family's weekly shopping trip.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said the travels of Mr Marles' - who makes $416,212 a year- were in line with government rules.
'All travel conducted by the Deputy Prime Minister either in his role as Defence Minister or as Acting Prime Minister is in accordance with the relevant guidelines and security procedures,' the spokesperson said.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Marles' office for comment.
The minister was more recently revealed to have used tax-payer funds to pay $350 for breakfasts and laundry during a $2000 stay at a Washington DC hotel in December - with $80 on a single breakfast (bill pictured)
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