Former prime minister Tony Abbott pocketed taxpayer-funded travel allowance on a day he attended a birthday celebration for a mining magnate and Liberal Party donor.

Mr Abbott went to the birthday bash for major party backer Paul Marks at Melbourne's exclusive Huntingdale Golf Club on Sunday, March 22, while still Liberal leader.

Key points: Abbott attended Paul Marks' birthday party at exclusive golf club on March 22

Abbott attended Paul Marks' birthday party at exclusive golf club on March 22 Then-PM charged public $560 for travel allowance and $105.50 for chauffeur-driven car

Then-PM charged public $560 for travel allowance and $105.50 for chauffeur-driven car Marks and the company he chairs made at least $930k in Liberal Party donations between 2013-14

Marks and the company he chairs made at least $930k in Liberal Party donations between 2013-14 Office insists Abbott "had other work-related engagements in Melbourne" on the day

The latest update on politicians' entitlements revealed Mr Abbott charged the public $560 in parliamentary travel allowance for the Melbourne trip, and $105.50 for a chauffeur-driven Commonwealth car in the city on the day.

His Comcar use the next day in Melbourne cost $122.53, before he flew to Canberra for Parliament.

Mr Abbott came under fire earlier this year when it was revealed he travelled to the Victorian capital on a taxpayer-funded RAAF jet.

Mr Marks and the resources company he chairs funnelled at least $930,000 into Liberal Party causes during 2013-14.

Mr Abbott's office insists there was a work-related event on the same day, but refused to provide further details.

"Mr Abbott had other work-related engagements in Melbourne on Sunday 22 March, 2015," a spokesman said in a statement.

"All travel was undertaken within the rules.

"The work-related engagement was not an event organised by Paul Marks."

The former prime minister travelled to Melbourne from Sydney, after attending NSW Premier Mike Baird's election campaign launch.

Human Services Minister Stuart Robert also reportedly attended the birthday gathering, but has listed no expenses for March 22.

Party donor executive chairman of Nimrod Resources

Mr Marks personally poured $250,000 into the Liberal Party during the 2013-14 financial year, electoral commission documents show.

He also gave $181,361 to the Liberal-linked Free Enterprise Foundation.

He is executive chairman of resources company Nimrod Resources, which donated $500,000 to the party during the same period.

Mr Abbott has previously repaid taxpayer funds claimed for attending colleagues' weddings.

He was criticised earlier this year for not strongly condemning former speaker Bronwyn Bishop amid furore over a $5,000-plus taxpayer-funded helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong for a Liberal Party event.

The latest expenditure report, covering the first six months of 2015, shows Mrs Bishop spent more than $50,000 on a country-hopping South American trip in January, and spent $4,100 on a return charter flight between Canberra and Port Macquarie for an International Women's Day event.

The Finance Department documents also show former treasurer Joe Hockey spent $6,670 on a charter flight from Sydney to Canberra.

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