The best Labor could come up with in 2015 was it did not pass the pub test.
A spokesperson for Ms Ley said the purchase of the almost $800,000 property "was not planned nor anticipated".
In a statement, the spokesperson said the Minister had travelled to Brisbane to announce health funding before meeting with "local health stakeholders" 80 kilometres away on the Gold Coast.
"Minister Ley's partner was invited to accompany her to a function in Sydney on the Friday evening," the statement read.
"He then travelled with the Minister to Queensland under family travel arrangements.
"The EMB [Entitlements Management Branch] was consulted at the time to confirm Ms Ley's partner's travel was within the rules.
"All travel undertaken was in accordance with the rules."
The property is described as an investment in Ms Ley's Register of Interests, where she also declares a mortgage for the property.