Liberal · Western Australia (Senate, 2014 to 2025)
Linda Reynolds
Former Senator for Western Australia
- On the trail
- $7,022.41
- Found in breach
- $7,022.41
- Rule breaches found
- 1
- Repaid
- $8,778.01
Totals only include items with a published figure. Updated 25 October 2026.
The former defence minister repaid $8,778.01 after the expenses watchdog found her partner flew business class to Melbourne three times, at taxpayers' expense, to see their son, in her final weeks as a senator.
IPEA found the problem during a routine check of business-class flights: in May and June 2025, Linda Reynolds's partner had flown business class from Perth to Melbourne three times, on her family travel entitlement, without her.
Reynolds told IPEA he was on his way to join her in Canberra, stopping in Melbourne to see and stay with their son. IPEA's ruling was simple: family travel is for spending time with the politician, not wider family. Her work was in Canberra, not Melbourne, and on two of the trips she hadn't even left yet herself. His flights on to Canberra were fine.
She was invoiced $8,778.01 including penalties, and has repaid it. The travel happened in her last weeks as a senator: her term ended on 30 June 2025.
The money trail
2025
8 Oct 2025 · Repayment
Invoiced $8,598.99 for three airfares and $179.02 for two Comcar trips, including 25% penalties
−$8,778.01
Reynolds wrote to IPEA again after the invoices were issued; IPEA says that didn't change the outcome. The invoices have been repaid in full.
11 May 2025 · Family travel
Partner's flights to Canberra to join her on 11 May, 1 June and 23 June 2025
No figure published
Who: Her partner (nominee)
IPEA found these consistent with the rules. No cost published.
9 May 2025 · Family travel
Partner's business-class flights from Perth to Melbourne on 9 May, 30 May and 21 June 2025, plus two Comcar trips
$7,022.41
Who: Her partner (nominee)
Reynolds told IPEA he was travelling to join her in Canberra via stopovers in Melbourne to see and stay with their son. IPEA found the Melbourne legs weren't to join her, since her work was in Canberra, and that on the two May trips she hadn't yet begun her own travel. Family travel rules cover time with the politician, not wider family. IPEA found it while checking business-class flights. Amount before the penalty, calculated from IPEA's invoices of $8,778.01.