Small Business Minister Anne Aly is facing scrutiny over more than $150,000 in taxpayer-funded overseas travel after visiting nine countries as Australian businesses battle mounting financial pressure.
Expenditure records reveal that Aly made four international trips between June and November 2025 while serving as Minister for International Development and Multicultural Affairs. In total, she spent 27 days overseas.
Her itinerary took in Spain, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
A seven-day trip to Spain was among the costliest, with the bill to taxpayers reaching $42,907.20.
While there, Aly attended the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Spanish Government to strengthen co-operation on gender equality.
Taxpayers also covered $18,649 for a visit to Indonesia, where the minister focused on development assistance initiatives.
A separate five-day mission to India and Bangladesh cost $34,516.74.
During a trip to Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates spanning October and November, almost $4,000 was spent on accommodation and meals alone, according to official expenditure disclosures.
Anne Aly (right) incurred more than $150,000 in taxpayer-funded travel costs across nine countries
The figures drew a sharp response from Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson during an appearance on News24 on Thursday.
“Ministers do have to travel internationally occasionally to do their jobs, but nine trips in such a short period of time is a heck of a lot of travel, and $150,000 is a lot to spend,” Paterson said.
“I think one of those trips to Spain on its own cost $40,000.”
“Most small business people work their entire lives and would never dream of being able to afford one trip like that in their retirement.”
Paterson said the government was also failing to adequately support small business operators during a challenging period for the sector.
“At a time when small business is struggling, at a time when this government is smashing small business with credit card surcharge bans, banning the payment of tax debts to the ATO, hitting them with so many other taxes and regulations, including right now before the parliament, tax changes to trusts, which will really harm the small business sector,” he said.
CONTINUE READING: Why Michael D Higgins Is Embroiled in Row Over Homes Next Door
“They need a small business minister in Australia fighting for them, but Anne Aly obviously has no interest in fighting for them.”
Aly has defended the travel spending, dismissing suggestions that she is disengaged from small businesses and arguing that her ministerial portfolios are closely linked.
Aly (right) travelled to countries including Spain, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Bahrain
“I’ve owned a small business myself,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“Any suggestion that small business, multicultural affairs and international development don’t belong together shows a pretty limited understanding of Australia’s economy,” she said.
The criticism comes amid growing backlash from business groups over changes to card payment rules.
Since October 1, businesses have been prevented from imposing surcharges on customers using eftpos, Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards.
While the Reserve Bank of Australia did not formally outlaw surcharges, card networks have introduced rules preventing merchants from passing the costs on directly to customers.
Industry groups have warned the change forces businesses to either absorb transaction costs themselves or increase prices elsewhere.
Further backlash intensified after the Australian Taxation Office announced plans to stop accepting credit card payments for tax debts, arguing it could no longer wear the cost of processing fees.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers intervened following the announcement, delaying the change and allowing the ATO to continue accepting card payments until June 30, 2027.
Business Sydney’s executive director Paul Nicolau told The Daily Telegraph businesses were facing ‘rising operating costs, high energy bills, insurance premiums, wages, rent and increasing regulatory and compliance burdens’.
He added while business owners are ‘incredibly resilient… resilience can only go so far’.
‘Changes to credit card surcharges and the Australian Taxation Office’s proposed restrictions on using credit cards to pay tax are two important examples of why governments need to carefully consider the practical implications of their decisions.’
Our News Outlet has contacted Small Business Minister Anne Aly for comment.
