National Party federal frontbencher Barnaby Joyce (main picture) says he will refund all expenses he incurred on a now-abandoned visit to Paris.

Mr Joyce’s office said the former party leader and deputy prime minister had accepted full responsibility for “an innocent mistake” in initially charging travel expenses to taxpayers.

“Barnaby incurred what he believed at the time to be legitimate travel expenses for a 14-day overseas official visit to attend a major event in France,” a spokesperson for the Opposition frontbencher said.

“The plan was for him to fly out of Sydney and head to France via Dubai, then stay in Paris for the next 10 days. With flying time at either end of the official trip that would have taken the time he was away to a fortnight.

“He got as far as Dubai where today he was due to make a connecting flight to Paris, but at the moment he is cooling his heels before boarding a plane to return to Australia.

“Of course now that the innocent mistake he made has been revealed, Barnaby wishes to apologise to taxpayers and to let them know in no uncertain terms that he takes full responsibility and will be refunding in full any costs incurred.

“In a text message this morning he admits he was only half-listening when he heard news of the event he wanted to fly to Paris to attend, but he now realises there is no such thing as the Paralytic Games,” the spokesperson said.

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