Aussie foreign minister's $1.3m expenses included trip to Thor: Ragnarok premiere

The Australian Labor Party has queried NZ$$1.3 million in expenses claimed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, including a trip to the Sydney premiere of Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Kiwi Taika Waititi. 

Labor senator Kimberley Kitching told a Senate committee yesterday that the minister had spent the $1.3 m in a "variety of ways", including attending a polo match and the movie premiere.

She asked Attorney-General George Brandis whether the spending met the ministerial standards code, which called for frontbenchers to "refrain from wasteful and extravagant spend of public money".

Senator Brandis said Ms Bishop was "one of the most experienced and most respected ministers in the Australian government".

"(She) is well aware of the standards and is always observant of them," Senator Brandis said.

Thor: Ragnarok was primarily filmed in Queensland, featuring Melbourne-born actor Chris Hemsworth.

At the movie premiere on October 15, Ms Bishop was quoted as saying: "It does add a great deal to the Australian economy and it will raise our profile overseas as a sophisticated, creative nation."

Senator Brandis told the committee, after seeking advice, the minister had attended not only in her official capacity but launched the premiere and gave a speech.

In any case, the minister was already in Sydney having returned from an official trip to South Korea and was due to travel to Canberra the following day for a parliament session.

The government provided $53m to attract Thor: Ragnarok and another film produced by Sir Ridley Scott.

It was estimated the films would bring more than $336 million in investment and provide over 3000 jobs.

Senator Kitching said it appeared ministerial standards were applied in different ways to different ministers, citing the case of former minister Sussan Ley quitting over an "error of judgment" about a trip to the Gold Coast.

Senator Brandis rejected the suggestion.