Sarah Hanson-Young

In late 2025, parliamentarians' family travel expenses prompted significant national controversy. Hanson-Young was among the elected representatives reported as having declared numerous family flights since 2022, particularly between Adelaide and Canberra, while her partner also worked in public affairs. IPEA data continued to show family travel expenses in 2026.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

Hanson-Young sued former senator David Leyonhjelm over offensive and sexualised public remarks. The Federal Court found in 2019 that he had defamed her and awarded her 120 000 dollars in damages. The Full Federal Court dismissed Leyonhjelm's appeal in March 2021, and the High Court subsequently refused special leave.

As chair of an inquiry into oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight, Hanson-Young was accused by Labor senator Alex Gallacher of having a predetermined position against drilling and of failing to conduct the inquiry with sufficient openness. The committee failed to produce a consensus report.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Hanson-Young faced criticism following the disclosure of approximately 3 560 dollars in expenses relating to a trip to the Great Australian Bight in which her daughter participated, including a whale-watching boat trip as part of a programme of consultations and awareness-raising.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Sarah Hanson-Young agreed to ask Senate questions prepared in coordination with Commonwealth Ombudsman Allan Asher concerning immigration detention centres. The affair triggered a crisis over the Ombudsman's independence, and Asher ultimately resigned after acknowledging an error of judgement.

State of the evidence

Documented