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

Former Liberal senator initially labelled ruling by parliamentary expenses authority patently ridiculous', saying visits were necessary

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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.

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 long-running court dispute with former staffer Brittany Higgins.