FLINDERS MP Zoe McKenzie has updated her parliamentary Statement of Registerable Interests detailing last month’s European trip; the second for 2026, and the seventh overseas trip since she was elected in 2022.
McKenzie travelled to Germany, Belgium and France between 13 and 28 February with transport, meals and accommodation for the 19-28 February portion in Brussels and Berlin provided by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Regional Programme – Australia and the Pacific. McKenzie funded the France portion of her trip herself.
The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). The organisation’s website states it makes “a contribution underpinned by values to helping Germany meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world”.
Her other European trip this year was between 21 and 25 January when McKenzie travelled to Germany to attend and address the Political Tech Summit in Berlin, hosted by the Meliore Foundation.
Between 6 – 13 September last year, McKenzie travelled as part of the Denmark Offshore Wind Delegation with partial coverage of international flights and all in-country costs provided by the Royal Danish Embassy and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group inspected onshore and offshore wind and Renewable Energy Terminal / port interests in Copenhagen, Allborg, Osterlid, Hvide Sande, Give, Billund and Esbjerg.
In her first term as the Member for Flinders, McKenzie had four overseas trips.
Her first trip was to Egypt in November 2022 to attend COP27, with airfares, accommodation, transportation and hospitality supplied by the Coalition for Conservation.
In October 2023, McKenzie travelled to Brussels and Germany, with meals and accommodation in Brussels and Berlin provided by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Regional Programme – Australia.
McKenzie travelled to Israel in December 2023 as part of a bipartisan parliamentary delegation hosted by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council which describes itself as “the premier public affairs organisation for the Australian Jewish community”.
In October 2024, McKenzie travelled to India with flights, accommodation, ground transport and hospitality provided by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, a foundation active in the areas of health, education, and global issues.
McKenzie’s latest European trip between 13 and 28 February was not acknowledged on her Facebook page, but during the time she was away, there was a post congratulating Angus Taylor for being elected the new leader of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party, a post acknowledging her appointment as a Shadow Minister under the new leadership team, a video criticising the state of Victoria’s roads, a post spruiking a petition to rebuild Rosebud Hospital, a post congratulating Anthony Marsh for being preselected as the Liberal Candidate for the Nepean by-election, and a post launching an Easter colouring in competition.
Her trip was acknowledged with posts on her LinkedIn page.
A spokesperson from McKenzie’s office told The News “No trip was funded by the public purse. Zoe has not joined any of the Parliamentary trips which are taxpayer funded. All Zoe’s trips are all funded externally, and the details are included in the Members Interests Statements”.
“Zoe also has a tendency to work when she is on self-funded holidays built around seeing friends and family overseas, having lived and worked in Europe.
“In fact, Zoe has not taken a holiday without working part of it, since 2022 shortly after her election.
“Zoe has been engaged in France Australian Relations for some 30+ years and was awarded the Ordre National du Merite for service to the bilateral relationship in 2018, a service she continues in her parliamentary career, and has extended to focus on Australia’s deepening relationships with the EU.”
First published in the Mornington News – 24 March 2026
