Federal Minister Anika Wells is coming under increased scrutiny as concerns grow over her use of taxpayer funds, which some critics argue doesn’t meet community standards.

Recent disclosures have shown that the Minister for Communications and Sport incurred significant expenses flying her husband, Finn McCarthy, to various cricket events, notably including the Boxing Day Test on two occasions.

According to the federal government’s “family reunion” policy, family members of federal MPs are allowed to use Commonwealth funds to accompany or join them when they are traveling within Australia for parliamentary duties.

Wells accounted for $4,000 in cricket-related expenses in 2022 and 2024 under this policy.

Defending the expenditures, Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth, a fellow frontbencher, stated that these cricket trips were conducted “within the rules and guidelines.”

“She did follow the rules, it was for work purposes,” Rishworth told Today.

“I think the rules very explicitly talk about work being the dominant purpose. And that’s really important.

“And of course, Minister Wells has answered extensively yesterday that these were work-purpose flights.”

Wells attended the cricket events and a Paralympian event at Thredbo in June in her capacity as sports minister.

Fellow frontbencher Tanya Plibersek told Today that Wells used the funds appropriately as she was travelling for work.

“There are so many weekends away from home, and if you’re sports minister, a lot of those are very deliberately weekend events that you’re required to attend because that’s when people watch sport,” Plibersek said.

“That’s when people play sport.

“She was in Thredbo to highlight the extra investment we’re making in the Paralympics.”

Wells also defended her own Olympic-sized expenses last week, saying “every parliamentarian has family reunion entitlements”.

This defence was echoed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who told the ABC’s Insiders today that “all of the travel was within guidelines”.

The hefty bills have faced criticism from the opposition, after Shadow Industry Minister Alex Hawke said, “whether it’s New York, whether it’s Paris, whether it’s Thredbo, these are expenses that would make the royals blush”.

“If she wants to take her family on a ski holiday, she can pay for it herself,” Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson added.