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THE Nationals has confirmed Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended a two-hour soirée during his controversial taxpayer funded trip to Port Macquarie in 2011. Mr Abbott has said he was entitled to bill taxpayers almost $1300 for his visit, where he participated in the bike leg of the 70.3 Ironman. He justified his claim by saying his overnight trip would have involved "a few other community events". Apart from what a National Party spokesman has described as a "two-hour drinks event", the Port News has been unable to identify any "community events" coinciding with Mr Abbott's overnight stay. On Wednesday, the Port News confirmed The Nationals had picked up a bill for a function at the former Country Comfort Hotel. A Nationals' spokesman said the purpose of the event was to "welcome" the then-opposition leader to Port Macquarie. Tickets to the open-invitation function cost $50. "It was not a fundraiser, and ticket sales were used to cover our costs," the spokesman said. It comes as the expenses scandal plaguing both sides of government stretches into its second week. Prime Minister Abbott is among a number of parliamentarians being criticised for their alleged misuse of taxpayer money. Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner's office has confirmed there was a diary entry for Mr Stoner and his wife Cathy to attend a National Party function coinciding with those dates. Brendon Lynch, who was the venue's head chef at the time, confirmed the now Prime Minister attended the event. "He was a real gentlemen," Mr Lynch told the Port News of his brush with Mr Abbott two years ago. "I remember he was a really nice guy and happy for us to have a photo with him." It is not the first time eyebrows have been raised at Mr Abbott's presence in Port Macquarie. Mr Abbott attended a community forum at The Westport Club a few weeks prior to the Ironman in September 2011. But some sections of the community were concerned that the event was invitation-only. Prime Minister Tony Abbott's controversial taxpayer-funded trip to Port Macquarie was dedicated to more than just donning lycra.

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