Anika Wells
Counted against the divisions held while they sat, not the whole parliament. Absence from a division is not abstention: pairing arrangements, leave and parliamentary duties are not distinguished in the official record. How these figures are computed.
Background
| Born | 11 Aug 1985, South Brisbane, Queensland |
|---|---|
| Entered parliament | 18 May 2019 |
| Parliaments | 46th, 47th, 48th |
| Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Laws Honours | Griffith University |
| Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Government) | Griffith University |
Occupations before parliament
| Role | Organisation | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | Maurice Blackburn | 2014 – 2019 |
Positions held
| Role | Ministry | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister for Communications | Albanese Ministry (2nd) | 13 May 2025 | current |
| Cabinet Minister | Albanese Ministry; Albanese Ministry (2nd) | 20 Jan 2025 | current |
| Minister for Sport | Albanese Ministry; Albanese Ministry (2nd) | 1 Jun 2022 | current |
| Minister for Aged Care | Albanese Ministry | 1 Jun 2022 | 13 May 2025 |
Committee service
| Committee | Role | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary Standards Joint Select | Member | 17 Feb 2022 | 11 Apr 2022 |
| Northern Australia Joint Standing | Deputy Chair from 25 Nov 2021 to 11 Apr 2022 | 10 Sep 2019 | 11 Apr 2022 |
| Privileges and Members' Interests House of Representatives Standing | Member | 24 Jul 2019 | 11 Apr 2022 |
| Publications House of Representatives Standing | Deputy Chair | 22 Jul 2019 | 11 Apr 2022 |
Memberships as the Parliamentary Handbook records them; current means no end date is recorded.
Election history
| Election | Electorate | Party | First pref % | Swing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 federal election | Lilley | Australian Labor Party | 46.08 | +4.24 | Elected |
| 2022 federal election | Lilley | Australian Labor Party | 41.84 | +6.20 | Elected |
| 2019 federal election | Lilley | Australian Labor Party | 35.64 | -8.12 | Elected |
First-preference share of the formal vote at each event, matched by name within the member's state.
Parliamentary expenses
| Category | Apr-Jun 2026 | Jan-Mar 2026 | Oct-Dec 2025 | Jul-Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Travel | $159,040 | $131,427 | $232,417 | $195,869 |
| Office Facilities | $85,722 | $85,715 | $91,590 | $79,375 |
| Office Administration | $81,384 | $40,086 | $78,308 | $77,422 |
| Scheduled Commercial Transport | $29,174 | $14,624 | $29,339 | $21,941 |
| International Travel | $0 | -$126 | $48,264 | $504 |
| Travel Allowance | $12,022 | $10,193 | $13,654 | $7,050 |
| Other Car Costs | $9,126 | $8,481 | $12,633 | $12,434 |
| Family or Nominee Travel | -$6,018 | $2,576 | $3,434 | $3,457 |
| Telecommunications | $562 | $728 | $562 | $790 |
| Unscheduled Commercial Transport | -$1,024 | -$25 | $1,090 | $526 |
| Total | $369,989 | $293,679 | $511,291 | $399,368 |
Expenditure as the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority publishes it each quarter, in its own categories, rounded to the dollar. Travel distances, office locations and roles differ, so totals do not compare between members. IPEA's reports and notes.
Funding disclosures
| Election | Electorate | Donations | Donors | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 federal election | Lilley | Nil return | ||
| 2022 federal election | Lilley | Nil return | ||
| 2019 federal election | Lilley | Nil return | ||
Returns as lodged with the AEC: a candidate's return covers the gifts received and electoral expenditure for that election, a member's annual return the gifts received in the financial year. A nil return records no gifts or spending of the candidate's own. A party-endorsed candidate lodges one when the party or its campaign committee handled the campaign's money, and the party discloses it in its own returns. AEC Transparency Register.
Bills raised
| Bill | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 | Introduced | Assent |
| Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026 | Introduced | Assent |
| News Journalism Payments (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2026 | Introduced | Assent |
| News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 | Introduced | Assent |
| Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 | Introduced | Before Reps |
| Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026 | Introduced | Passed Both Houses |
| Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 | Introduced | Passed Both Houses |
| Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026 | Introduced | Passed Both Houses |
Sponsor marks the member's own bill; Introduced marks bills they moved, typically as the responsible minister.
Voting record 167 divisions
Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)/Sarah Hodges (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikidata, Parliamentary Handbook, AEC (CC BY 4.0), IPEA (CC BY 3.0 AU), AEC disclosures (CC BY 4.0), They Vote For You (ODbL). Errors? Request a correction.