Rules on MPs’ ad spending relaxed to lessen public servants’ workload

Attempt to create less grunt work for public servants behind decision to report less details around MPs’ expenditure on online ads and self-promotional material

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The finance department has admitted it is now reporting less transparency around what federal MPs bill to taxpayers on junk mail and online advertising in a bid to reduce admin scutwork for public servants.

The change to expense reporting means voters will now have no insight into what federal MPs buy with their printing and communications budget, including self-promotional pamphlets and online advertising.

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