Legislative Council president Bruce Atkinson has defended taxpayer funded trips for MPs after Victorian speaker Telmo Languiller was criticised for overseas travel.

The Age reported Mr Languiller spent more than $50,000 on two separate taxpayer-funded trips to Uruguay, where he was born. 

But Mr Atkinson explained there were a number of different avenues for MPs and speakers to claim travel expenses.

‘By and large I think a lot of the travel is worthwhile,’ he told Neil Mitchell.

‘The speaker has indicated to me he is keen to actually encourage greater trading relations with Uruguay and other countries in south America.’

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