The Health Minister is facing a vicious media and public backlash this week after some questionable spending came to light.

Reports have raised questions about over a dozen taxpayer-funded trips by Health Minister Sussan Ley, which did not appear to have a strong political purpose.

Ms Ley has stood aside as the scandal unfolds, with LNP veteran Arthur Sinodinos taking on the role of acting Health Minister as the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet investigates.

The trips included two New Year's Eve celebrations on the Gold Coast tourist strip.

On at least two of the trips Ms Ley purchased properties while travelling on ministerial business, including an $800,000 apartment.

She bought the Gold Coast apartment while on a taxpayer-funded May 9, 2015, trip to Brisbane for a health announcement.

Ms Ley bought the home from Martin Henry Corkery, who donated $50,000 to the Queensland LNP in 2011.

“I have spoken to the Prime Minister and he agrees that this claim does not meet the high standards he expects of ministers,” Ms Ley said of the trip to buy the apartment.

“I apologise for the error of judgement.”

She has agreed to pay back expenses for four trips, but questions have now been raised about the reported 17 times she travelled to the Gold Coast between 2013 and 2016, costing taxpayers more than $40,000.

News Corp reporters say they have cross-referenced Ms Ley’s Gold Coast trips with her parliamentary and ministerial duties, and found no evidence of any “official business” on at least nine occasions.

Some of the dates were on weekends and public holidays.

A spokesperson for Ms Ley said that the Minister has to attend “extensive meetings with doctors, patients and other organisations” that do not include a media release or speech on the public record, but that does not mean the trips are unjustified.

The Finance Department has been asked to probe Ms Ley’s ministerial travel to the Gold Coast.