Michelle Rowland

Michelle Rowland is the Attorney General of Australia. She is currently newsworthy due to two separate issues. First, she is facing scrutiny over travel expenses related to a family trip to Western Australia in 2023. An independent watchdog found that part of the trip fell outside of entitlement guidelines, and Rowland has agreed to repay a portion of the $22,000 cost. This situation has contributed to a broader discussion about overhauling travel perks for politicians, with Prime Minister Albanese seeking advice from the independent expenses watchdog. Second, Rowland is involved in the drafting of new hate speech laws. A draft bill reveals a potential defense for those accused of breaching the law if they were quoting from religious texts. This aspect of the legislation has sparked debate and public interest.