Bronwyn Bishop has resigned as Speaker

The problem about them all being the same is - they are all the same.

Apparently Ms Bishops' travel allowance for 2014 was approximately $800k ... now, knowing how no pollie is going to be a martyr and not take advantage of the rorts legally available ... I'd be interested to have published everyone's total travel usage ... wouldn't be surprised if it added up to nearly $200mil/yr

 

Exactly.

Here's an interesting anecdote about that; my Uncle (since passed) was a terrific and fine upstanding contribution to the human race.

He used to work for a large Corp as a rep, and had an expense account each month.

One time, he shouted us all out to dinner at a nice restaurant, and he made the disclaimer that he had this $X per month account, and if he didn't spend the money; the Corp would re-calibrate the account amount to the expenses.

Basically; spend it or we will reduce it.

This may be the same for all these Pollies?

 

Yea, the main objective for politicians is to discredit the other party so that they can look good in the eyes of the public which increases their chance of winning the next election. A huge number of other issues is a secondary concern.

 

Everything is a cycle

 

Everyone's travel useage is published! (although as a taxpayer, reading it won't make you happy )

For example. Bronwyn Bishop in 2014 claimed on travel:
1 January to 30 June 2014 - $210,153.62 (1)
1 July to 31 Dec - $193,275.75 (2)

The $802,875.69 , is her total expenditure, but that includes office fitouts and things the politicians have no control of. The office fitouts are apparently controlled by Department of Finance, so I don't think it is that fair to blame them on individual politicians.

(1) http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/P34_BISHOP_Bronwyn.pdf
(2) http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/P35_BISHOP_Bronwyn.pdf

Something that has interested me in the whole travel claims saga is that Bill Shorten has been front and centre calling for BBs resignation and 'calling her out' for rorting. However, having a look at his expense claims, I note that in 2014 he claimed $34,766.96 on Family Travel Costs (3, 4). Is he 100% sure that every single one of those claims is legit? I just feel like if I was calling someone out on something, I would want to be dam sure I wasn't breaking any rules myself. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?

(3) http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/P34_SHORTEN_Bill.pdf
(4) http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/P35_SHORTEN_Bill.pdf

 

Love the idea of a public register of entitlements used by politicians

 

It would seem both sides of the fence have their snouts in the trough fairly regularly.

 

It doesn't appear to be the case. It's not a budget, these are expense claims for expenses incurred in carrying out official duties. It would be interesting to see a hit list of big and small spenders. For example, Clive Palmer is positively frugal, at a mere $170,373.65 in 2014. Big spenders include Tanya Plibersek at $727,622.46 and Bill Shorten at $759,912.46 in 2014. Total expenses claimed in 2014 exceed
$95 million. Almost 100 million bucks spent just on pollies. No wonder there is a budget 'emergency'

 

For 2014, it is here and here:
http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/parliamentarians-reporting/parliamentarians-expenditure-P34/
http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/parliamentarians-reporting/parliamentarians-expenditure-P35/

if you want to read how one group of people spent a 100 million bucks of our money...

 

They should all be made to use Uber to keep costs down

 

They should all give fixed travel allowance per year calculated based on the number of trips times average economy flight fair and hotel accommodation. If they travel more they have to pay if from their own pocket or if they want to hire helicopter they can, but pay from their own pocket.

The travel allowance would form part of their taxable income and they can claim their real travel expenses in their tax return such like everyone else. They can then argue with tax office about deductabiliy of expenses.

 

So now there are reports of Burke going to a robbie williams concert and claiming that. Taking his family on a holiday to uluru and claiming that. Going to europe for one week and charging the tax payer 70k for the 7 day trip... 10k per day...how is that even possible.

But the thing is this is apparently all "within the rules".

So what exactly do these politicians need to do to break the rules? Next youll hear of tax payers covering the politicians trips to Zimbabwe for big game hunts...and that being "within the rules".

 

Ha ha, I wonder why!

See ya's.

 

Was anyone surprised?

John Hewson was being interviewed on "Sunrise" this morning about all this, and he said that back in his day he was castigated on both sides of the Pollie fence about spending too little because it would "endanger their entitlements".

 

No moral conscience.

And worrying about the gravy train being decommissioned

 

Maybe he is smart enough to know that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. A concept that is lost on Burke apparently.

 

I am surprised it has taken this long for the travel scandal to blow up. Burke and Hanson-Young have been dragged into it. More to follow, I'm sure.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/work...h-taxpayer-money/story-fn5tas5k-1227472211871

http://www.news.com.au/finance/work...ut-at-tony-burke/story-fn5tas5k-1227470757191

 

IF Jeb Bush can use Uber, then why can't our own do the same,they are all linked with the same chain of dependence ..might also bring them back to earth and think the way normal people think..