Tickets for Taylor Swift, Adele and the Wiggles, as well as seats at the NRL and AFL grand finals, were among items declared over the past two years. Other perks included free pay-TV subscriptions for their offices, international and regional tours, free memberships to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, flight and hotel upgrades. Under parliamentary requirements, each MP must register their investments, assets, directorships, any "substantial sources of income" and gifts valued at more than $750 received from official sources such as delegations from other countries, or more than $300 if received from others. Any sponsored travel or hospitality worth more than $300 must be recorded. Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared he got two free tickets to the Adele concert last year from ANZ stadium. Credit:Leigh Henningham Despite the avalanche of offers, more than 100 MPs have divulged fewer than 10 freebies in total since 2016, while others have listed more than 100 gifts landing in their offices. More than 190 bottles of wine and 21 cases of beer from the Queensland and Australian Hotels Associations were delivered to the former assistant minister to the Prime Minister, Queensland Senator James McGrath, over the past six months.

Loading In June, the AHA gave the LNP senator five cartons of Furphy beer, five cartons of Great Northern Beer, four cases of Pepperjack wine, four cases of Fifth leg wine, and two cases of "sparkling". In July, the Queensland Hotels Association stumped up 12 bottles of red wine, 12 bottles of white wine and a case of beer. In August, Diageo gave him a "heritage 4 litre barrel" worth $399" and a bottle of Bundaberg Rum. And in November, the Queensland Hotels Association donated 10 cases of beer and four cases of mixed wine worth $736.

Senator McGrath also declared receiving "disgusting vegan sausages" from PETA in 2017 and a further 100 sausages and 100 meat patties from Stanbroke Beef. A spokesman said the alcoholic beverages were donated as "in-kind support for functions hosted by the senator". "The senator stands by his description of the vegan sausages as 'disgusting' – because they are," his spokesman said. Senator James McGrath declared several gifts from hotel and alcohol groups as well as some "disgusting" vegan sausages from PETA. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Minister for Regional Services and Sport, Senator Bridget McKenzie, declared more than 50 gifts and travel upgrades but gave zero sources for them until contacted by the Herald.

"The requirement to list the sources for gifts and hospitality items is an administrative oversight and will be rectified for all items at the next required update," a spokesman for the Victorian National senator said. The chair of the Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests, Liberal MP Ross Vasta, said all members were reminded "a few times each year" of their obligations to update the register within 28 days of receiving the gift. But the Herald found more than 30 federal parliamentarians had failed to update their register this year. Liberal MP Craig Kelly did not declare overseas trips to Japan (pictured) and Azerbaijan, funded by a foreign government and a coal lobby group. Credit:Alamy The Liberal MP for Hughes, Craig Kelly, had not recorded any gifts or hospitality since September 2016 despite taking at least two overseas trips funded by a foreign government and a coal lobby group. In April, the south-west Sydney MP travelled to Azerbaijan on a state-sponsored visit, for the second time, to observe their presidential election.

Loading In July, Mr Kelly was flown to Japan, all expenses paid by the Mineral Council of Australia’s COAL21 fund. The trip, led by former deputy prime minister and current Whitehaven Coal chairman Mark Vaile, included "business class return airfares, accommodation, transfer and hospitality". Mr Kelly said that there was "some miscommunication" by his office when "filing the forms officially" to the clerks’ office but since being contacted by the Herald, he has rectified the record. "The only updates to my register of interests that are required are the trips to Baku and Japan," Mr Kelly said. University of Melbourne lecturer in politics and lobbying George Rennie said transparency in gift giving was critical because of its underlying influence over decision making.

"Time after time, politicians are caught breaking the rules. They are caught because of a vigilant press, not by those responsible for 'overseeing' the register," Mr Rennie said. "When they are caught, they seem to react with a shrug, a 'whoops', and they amend their statement with little further consequence." The rules behind the register are made by resolutions of parliament and breaches are seen as "a serious contempt" to be dealt with "accordingly" by either a senate or house of representatives committee. Qantas Chairman's lounge membership QANTAS Chairman's lounge Brisbane. Credit:Credit: Lucas Muro

Roughly half of all federal politicians declared a free Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership, which includes free drinks, a Neil Perry a la carte menu, and top-shelf drinks. The lounge is an exclusive invitation-only club and estimated to be worth thousands of dollars per year as outlined in this article. "Any estimated value of the Chairman's Lounge membership would easily be in the many, many thousands, as the basic Qantas Club membership costs $540 per year," Australian Business Traveller editor David Flynn said. Fewer than half of all politicians recorded a single upgraded flight, and fewer than 20 acknowledged any hotel room upgrades since 2016. Bar fridge gift Senator Fraser Anning has had more than $2600 worth of beverages flow into his office since February. He also received a bar fridge worth $650.

Senator Fraser Anning declared $2600 in alcohol since February as well as a bar fridge. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A spokesman for the Senator said he hosted constituents and parliamentarians for drinks "when appropriate". "The [alcohol] donation is small beer and pales in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations received by both major parties," the spokesman said. Israel and Palestine The declarations also show Israeli and Palestinian groups regularly pay for politicians to visit but not all MPs declared this hospitality.

In April, 2017, the Greens Senator Janet Rice was hosted by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) but it failed to be noted on her register. The Senator said she paid all expenses associated with the trip personally and has donated to APAN in the past, which is noted on the register. The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council sponsored Labor MPs with $10,000 each in 2017 for study tours and many Liberal MPs have also taken up offers to tour Israel. Registered silliness On September 12, 2017, Liberal MP Steven Ciobo added a tie to his register: "The Hon Chris Bowen MP presented me with a gift of sartorial excellence, a - to quote him - 'really classy knitted skinny navy blue tie'. I cannot be sure of its market value, however, would note I count it as priceless". Labor MP for Blaxland Jason Clare is one of the most diligent record keepers with more than 80 items on his list, including, "1 x Pineapple from Yeppoon - received from Michelle Landry MP - approx. value $5".