Linda Reynolds repays nearly $9,000 after partner billed taxpayers to visit son in Melbourne

<p>Former Liberal senator initially labelled ruling by parliamentary expenses authority ‘patently ridiculous’, saying visits were necessary</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has paid back nearly $8,800 in parliamentary expenses after her partner claimed family reunion allowances to visit his son in Melbourne while en route to meet her in Canberra.</p><p>Reynolds accepted the ruling of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) but initially disputed their ruling, saying her partner’s visits to his son – her stepson – were necessary after “high profile (and false) 2021 workplace allegations made against me”, seemingly a reference to her <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/aug/27/brittany-higgins-defamation-trial-verdict-linda-reynolds-victory-ntwnfb">long-running court dispute</a> with former staffer Brittany Higgins.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/02/linda-reynolds-repays-travel-allowance-family-reunion-partner-melbourne-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>