Wells has faced criticism for her taxpayer-funded travel expenses, with Shadow Industry Minister Alex Hawke remarking that “whether it’s New York, Paris, or Thredbo, these expenses are extravagant enough to embarrass royalty.”

Wells defended her busy schedule in Paris, noting that “sometimes I was so occupied, I had to eat a muesli bar in the car.”

However, on her first night, she dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant, where dinner for four cost €569 ($1000), followed by drinks totaling €427 ($750).

“We definitely did not continue to another venue. As far as I remember, I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep at the table, and we just walked back,” Wells shared with Sky.

In June, Wells attended an event in Thredbo to support Paralympians, bringing her family along for a ski weekend. The trip, funded by taxpayers, cost nearly $3000.

Wells defended the cost, saying “every parliamentarian has family reunion entitlements”.

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

“Anika Wells was working on that [Thredbo] trip as sports minister, participating in the lifting up of parasport. That’s been driven by Anika Wells,” he told the ABC’s Insiders.

“There are rules there, and I’m not going to go through each and every one. I’ve got a big job … It’s completely within the rules.

“There’s family reunion entitlements, all the travel that’s within the guidelines. She was working and there were announcements and there were events there.”

While it may be within guidelines, there is scrutiny about whether the expenses meet community standards.

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