# Janelle Saffin ministerial spending controversy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/janelle-saffin-ministerial-spending-controversy > Updated: 2026-09-10T03:36:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. New South Wales Minister Janelle Saffin faced scrutiny after reports revealed that taxpayer-funded ministerial office budgets were used to pay for luxury hotel accommodations in Sydney. One specific instance involved an eight-night stay at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth during the Mardi Gras period, costing approximately $4,400. Saffin characterized the use of office funds for these stays—which totaled 52 nights and nearly $20,000 since she became a minister—as an “administrative error.” Following an audit conducted with the Department of Parliamentary Services and the Premier’s Department, Saffin defended the expenses, stating the travel was legitimate and performed as part of her parliamentary duties. The audit confirmed that costs were inadvertently charged to her ministerial office budget instead of the Sydney Allowance intended for MPs from non-metropolitan electorates. While the NSW Liberals and Nationals referred the matter to the NSW Auditor General, labeling it “reckless spending,” Saffin has committed to reimbursing her ministerial office budget for the difference between the amounts paid and the applicable allowance. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Janelle Saffin defends travel expenses after audit finds administrative error NSW Minister Janelle Saffin has attributed a controversy over Sydney travel expenses to an administrative error, stating that legitimate travel was incorrectly charged to her ministerial office budget. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/janelle-saffin-defends-travel-expenses-after-audit-finds-administrative-error ### 2026-08-27: Janelle Saffin apologizes for using taxpayer funds for Sydney hotel stays NSW Minister Janelle Saffin apologized for using taxpayer-funded office budgets to pay for $4,400 in luxury hotel stays in Sydney, calling the incident an “administrative error.” 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/janelle-saffin-apologizes-for-using-taxpayer-funds-for-sydney-hotel-stays --- Cite as: Janelle Saffin ministerial spending controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/janelle-saffin-ministerial-spending-controversy