BREAKING: TIME just named Anika Wells one of the world’s “100 influential rising stars” Julia Gillard wrote the gushing profile. Courageous. Trail blazing. Protector of the children. Even Big Tech couldn’t stop her. She forgot to add taxpayer money guzzler. she has spent the year explaining housing with Ooshies and explaining her travel bill with “it was within the guidelines” The taxpayer funded highlight reel: - Almost $95,000 in last minute business-class flights so she, a staffer and a public servant could spruik the under 16 social media ban at the UN in New York. Albo signed it off. - Three Europe trips in 12 months as sports minister, about $116,000, including Paris Olympics dinners billed to the Commonwealth. One night she spent roughly $1,000 for four people. Her defence, she “fell asleep at the table” and ate muesli bars in the car. - Nearly $9,000 flying her husband to three AFL grand finals. Boxing Day Tests on the beer tab too. - Family reunion flights so the kids could join a Thredbo ski weekend while she did a Paralympics event. - $3,681 Adelaide “work trip” that included a Labor mate’s birthday party. - Comcars left idling for hours, seven hours at the Australian Open, nearly ten at the NRL grand finals. - IPEA later found four rule breaches. She repaid $10,116 including a penalty. The rest was waved through as “within the rules” Now she wants a Digital Duty of Care that lets the Communications Minister define “serious harm” online. Critics call it a blank cheque for political censorship. Gillard calls it world leading. TIME got the “influential” part right. Influential at the first class counter. Influential at the corporate box. Influential at deciding what you’re allowed to say. Future generations can look back on the Ooshies video and the $10k repayment. Trail blazing stuff.