A retired couple says Health Minister Sussan Ley made an unsuccessful bid for their house in the Gold Coast Hinterland nine months before she purchased an apartment during a work trip to the region.

Key points: Owners of Advancetown home said Sussan Ley visited twice in 2014, placed unsuccessful bid

Owners of Advancetown home said Sussan Ley visited twice in 2014, placed unsuccessful bid Ms Ley claimed travel expenses for two-night Gold Coast visit in September 2014

Ms Ley claimed travel expenses for two-night Gold Coast visit in September 2014 Nine months later, Ms Ley purchased an almost-$800,000 apartment during a work trip

Official records show Ms Ley — who stood down from the frontbench on Monday amid an investigation into expenses — claimed travel expenses for a two-night stay on the Gold Coast in September 2014.

The couple who owned the home confirmed to the ABC Ms Ley visited their property in the suburb of Advancetown twice when it was put on the market in 2014 and that she placed an unsuccessful bid on the house.

Nine months later, Ms Ley purchased an almost-$800,000 apartment during a work trip. She said the purchase was unplanned.

She has since stood down as the minister, pending the outcome of two internal investigations into her travel claims.

A spokesman for Ms Ley said she would await the findings of the inquiries before commenting on the second house.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on this issue while the inquiries are ongoing," the spokesman said.

The Gold Coast Hinterland home Ms Ley allegedly tried to purchase in 2014. ( LJ Hooker )

Official records show Ms Ley claimed for two nights' accommodation on the Gold Coast on September 5 and 6 in 2014, at a cost of $720, as well as return flights between Albury and Coolangatta, costing $1,050.

A real estate photo of a path leading to a Gold Coast property Ms Ley allegedly tried to buy in 2014. ( LJ Hooker )

She also claimed the $271 cost of a hire car at Coolangatta from September 5 to 8.

Ms Ley owns an apartment in this building on Main Beach. ( AAP: Scott Bailey )

Expenses system must be streamlined: Canavan

The latest development comes amid fresh accusations against three Coalition ministers of charging taxpayers to attend a New Year's Eve party hosted by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

George Brandis, Peter Dutton and Mitch Fifield were on official business in Sydney on New Year's Eve in 2015 with a combined travel bill to taxpayers close to $7,000.

LNP senator Matt Canavan wants the expenses system strengthened. ( ABC News: Nick Haggarty )

Crossbench senators have called for reform to the entitlement system, with Senator Nick Xenophon confirming he would reintroduce a bill next month for harsher penalties for breaches of politicians' entitlement rules.

Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan told the ABC the rules needed to be tightened.

"We had a review report last year, which recommended some major changes to how we manage the work expense system," he said.

"It does need to be streamlined, it does need to be strengthened. I'm sure [the] Government will soon act on those recommendations."

Look at MP expenditure

Explore how much your local politician spent from January 1 to July 30 in 2016 with our interactive chart. The chart is organised by type of expense, ordered from the politician with the most expenses claimed to the least.

Some past politicians will also appear, having lodged prior expenses with the Department of Finance during the six-month period.