Big bucks for MPs' Bollywood adventure RAW VISION: Rinehart, Joyce party at wedding Barnaby Joyce billed taxpayers for a trip to India where he, two other Liberal MPs and Gina Rinehart watched the granddaughter of her business partner marry in a lavish wedding. PT0M28S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2uzvk 620 349 October 4, 2013 It was among the most lavish weddings in Indian history. Gina Rinehart flew three Coalition MPs from Perth to Hyderabad in a private jet, where they watched the granddaughter of her business partner marry in front of 10,000 guests. But Barnaby Joyce, Julie Bishop and Teresa Gambaro collectively claimed more than $12,000 in "overseas study" allowances to pay for their flights home. Barnaby Joyce. Mrs Rinehart was about to clinch a $1 billion coal deal with the bride's grandfather - G.V. Krishna Reddy, the founder of GVK, one of India's largest energy and infrastructure companies. Forbes India reported that the invitations to the wedding of Mallika Reddy in June 2011 were sent out with golden statuettes to Bollywood stars, politicians and socialites. In the name of fostering stronger ties with India, Mrs Rinehart invited Australian politicians to be her guests at the wedding. The three Coalition MPs accepted, while Labor's then resources minister Martin Ferguson rejected the billionaire's offer, telling The Age he did "not think it appropriate to attend." What was not reported at the time was the extent to which Australian taxpayers helped pay for the politicians' travel. Julie Bishop. Mr Joyce said he was struck by the scale of the 10,000-guest celebration. "I must admit it was absolutely mind-blowing," he said. After a private jet flew him to Malaysia, Mr Joyce claimed a $5500 flight home for him and his wife out of Kuala Lumpur. The day of the flight, Mr Joyce met Malaysian officials, at noon and at 3pm, before flying home at 10pm. Teresa Gambaro. Photo: Tony Moore "My study period in this country was only of one day's duration," Mr Joyce wrote in an obligatory report about his study tour, "but it was of great assistance in familiarising myself with Malaysia." Mr Joyce summarised his top five findings in the opening page of his report. The first read: "Malaysia has recently experienced high levels of economic growth which has created urban cities comparable in wealth to cities in developed countries." Mr Joyce's second major finding was that economic disadvantage in Malaysia remains, particularly in rural areas. Mr Joyce defended his use of another $3600 in taxpayer entitlements, used to fly him and his wife to Perth, the day before the couple boarded a private jet to Hyderabad from that city. A spokeswoman for the Agriculture Minister told Fairfax Media that Mr Joyce and his wife attended "a range of official meetings with business people and Senate colleagues" in Perth that day, on which he also claimed $350 in travelling allowance. Mr Joyce's spokeswoman refused to say which senators or business people attended those meetings. Department of Finance guidelines state that politicians' taxpayer-funded travel, other than for business in their own electorate, must relate to their parliamentary title, or party-political business in special circumstances such as a national conference. Ms Bishop claimed a $3445 flight home to Perth from Hyderabad, also claiming her trip as a "study tour." Ms Bishop's report says she briefly attended a "formal" wedding ceremony but argues the primary purpose of her trip was to meet Indian energy and infrastructure companies that have Australian interests, and lists eight such meetings. Half of Ms Bishop's meetings involved members of the Reddy family, which includes some of India's leading industrialists and politicians. In Ms Bishop's "overseas study" report she says three of her meetings occurred on Saturday, June 11 - the day of the wedding. One of these meetings involved the bride's grandfather and Mrs Rinehart's business partner, Dr G.V.K. Reddy. Asked about her wedding-day meetings, Ms Bishop said: "The wedding started at 6pm on the Saturday night. The meetings were held prior to the wedding. Ms Bishop said she also attended a wedding-related function on the Friday night, the day she met two members of the Reddy family along with other business executives. "I took part in meetings on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday and then attended the wedding and reception for under two hours in the early evening," she said. Teresa Gambaro, the re-elected member for Brisbane, was the third Coalition MP to attend the wedding. Ms Gambaro claimed $3446 in "overseas study travel" for the trip. The purpose of Ms Gambaro's trip, according to her report, was to observe an international development program including four meetings with development groups for impoverished children, "HIV-affected families, widows, women and poor farmers." A spokesman said Ms Gambaro had nothing further to add.