Communications Minister Anika Wells has been recognised by TIME magazine as one of the world’s most influential rising stars after leading the Albanese government’s social media ban for under-16s. The honour comes despite criticism over a $90,000 taxpayer-funded trip to New York to promote the policy.
The international recognition arrives as Wells continues to face questions about her use of ministerial travel entitlements and other taxpayer-funded expenses.
Critics have argued that some of the minister’s travel claims—including trips involving her lobbyist husband—would not pass the “pub test”.
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard wrote Wells’ profile for the TIME list, describing the Labor minister as a prominent figure in the global effort to limit the power of social media companies and improve online protections for children.
“As the world grapples with the extraordinary power of social media and the increasingly pervasive role it plays, Anika Wells has emerged as one of the most significant voices in a growing global movement to reframe the relationship between technology and the well-being of our children,” Gillard wrote.
Gillard also credited Wells with advancing reforms she characterised as world-leading measures designed to shield young Australians from the potential harms of social media.
“As Australia’s Communications Minister, she has championed world-leading reforms to protect young people from the harms of social media,” Gillard said.
“Even in the face of intense opposition from some of the world’s largest tech companies, she remains steadfast.”
Anika Wells (pictured) has been named one of TIME’s World’s Most Influential Rising Stars
Gillard said Wells had also overseen new online safety measures, including regulations supporting Australia’s minimum-age requirements for social media access.
Wells was included alongside a high-profile group of rising figures, including Australian singer Troye Sivan and British singer Raye.
The list also featured US Republican Senator Katie Britt and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
The TIME recognition follows Wells’ repayment of $10,116 after a five-month audit by the Parliamentary Expenses Authority. The audit, released last Friday, identified four breaches of parliamentary travel rules across several trips between 2022 and 2025.
Although much of Wells’ travel was found to comply with the rules, her expenses have drawn continued scrutiny. That includes a reported bill of about $90,000 for a New York trip undertaken to promote the government’s social media ban.
The controversy subsequently expanded to cover a number of taxpayer-funded journeys involving members of the minister’s family.
The expenses included $7,000 to fly her husband, lobbyist Sam McCarthy, to three AFL Grand Finals at public expense.
According to the parliamentary expenses register, Wells also claimed almost $1,000 for a chauffeur who worked for seven hours on the day she attended the 2023 Australian Open. She claimed more than $1,200 for nine hours of chauffeur services on the day of the 2022 NRL and NRLW grand finals.
Wells’ profile in the list was written by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (pictured)
In June 2024, Wells spent $3,000 on flights and allowances for her husband and children to accompany her to Thredbo while she attended meetings with Paralympics Australia and organisers of the Adaptive Festival.
Another expense that came under scrutiny was the installation of a secure communications facility in Wells’ electorate office in October 2024, when she was serving as Sports and Aged Care Minister. A similar facility was already available about a 20-minute drive away.
Wells also conducted a ‘sideline meeting’ at a 40th birthday party during a $3,681 taxpayer-funded trip to Adelaide on June 7 last year.