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The ACT's four federal politicians have billed taxpayers more than $300,000 in parliamentary expenses during the second quarter of 2017, according to new documents. Figures published recently by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority show more than $366,894 was claimed as expenses between April 1 and June 30 this year. As an assistant minister in the government, Liberal senator Zed Seselja recorded the highest expenses for the time period, coming in at $146,500, the only ACT MP to have a six-figure bill to taxpayers. Senator Seselja was the only ACT MP to record international travel among his expenses, which included more than $18,000 for a ministerial visit for bilateral meetings with both Thailand and the UK. Labor Canberra MP Gai Brodtmann had the second highest expenses bill for the quarter, coming in at $92,411. Fenner MP and the Opposition's assistant treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh was next on the list for ACT politicians, with almost $80,000. Rounding out the list was Labor senator Katy Gallagher, who was referred last week to the High Court following issues surrounding her dual citizenship, with $48,260 in expenses over the three months. It is the second time the list of expenses has been reported quarterly through the IPEA. Previously, the reports were published every six months by the Department of Finance. The changes were made following expenses scandals surrounding former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and former Heath Minister Sussan Ley. Travel expenses for employees working for each of the MPs are now being recorded as part of the changes. Three employees working for Senator Seselja claimed more than $27,000 in both domestic and international travel during the time period, while three people working for Andrew Leigh claimed more than $5000 in travel expenses. Employee costs for both Senator Gallagher and Ms Brodtmann came in at $4600 and $1500 respectively. Senator Seselja had the largest domestic travel bill for taxpayers with more than $16,000 for the quarter as well as office facility expenses, coming in at just under $60,000. He said the cost of the lease for his Civic-based office was already determined before his re-election to the Senate in July 2016. "However, as soon as I was able to, I took the decision to relocate my electorate office to Gungahlin to ensure greater access to the community and lower costs on the public purse," he said. "My office was relocated in July." However, Ms Brodtmann had the highest expense for office administrative costs at $52,000, more than the cost for the other three MPs combined. The Canberra MP said the high cost was due to a dispute with Australia Post. "Every December I send a Christmas card calendar to every household in my electorate," she said. "Due to a dispute with Australia Post, an expense that is normally incurred and reported in the first quarter of a calendar year didn't get paid and reported until the second quarter of the year." Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had the highest expenses bill out of all federal MPs, coming in at $804,000 for the quarter, followed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with $784,000. Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade Minister Steve Ciobo rounded out the top five with $487,000, $464,000 and $461,000 worth of expenses respectively.

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