A former Liberal MP spent four years using his electorate allowance to fund trips and entertainment for women he met off a matchmaking website
for attractive girls and "wealthy benefactors" who were "generous and successful", the state’s corruption watchdog has found.Phil Edman, who lost his seat in State Parliament's upper house at the last election, was in March
Tuesday’s fresh CCC interim report into misconduct risks for MP electorate allowances detailed Mr Edman’s use of electorate allowances from 2013-2017, as a case study in how $7.5 million a year supposed to help state MPs serve their electorates was unaccountable, unaudited and subject to serious misconduct risk.
When asked why he needed to travel in December 2014, he initially avoided answering the question and then said 'I can't remember. Maybe [because] Parliament wasn't sitting'. While the woman said they had a sexual relationship, when asked if Ms Y had stayed with him in his hotel room Mr Edman told examiners "I don't think she stayed but she - she - we had some drinks in my room … I can't remember."The report found in April 2015, Mr Edman claimed an extension of a work trip to Canberra for five days past the completion of his work tasks but claimed accommodation for his entire stay, meals and entertainment on his allowance.
Mr Edman vehemently denied that Ms X stayed with him at his accommodation in Canberra, the report found, but Crowne Plaza records supported what Ms X had told the Commission; she was his guest for two days and nights.
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