MPs first responsibility is to their electorate, then to fulfill any role they have been given. Travel claims should be limited to those functions. 'Community engagement' outside their electorate is for the benefit of their party, not their constituents, and should be charged to the party. Where they mix business with pleasure costs should be split pro-rata. Overseas 'study leave' should be abolished - the internet has made it redundant.

"Mr Abbott has paid back items from the past, and admitted his error...."

Except that he's only paid back some (and ony then when the media has caught a whiff) - and there are huge questions over his practice of claiming expenses for self-promotion for himself and his family, by competing in sporting events, watching them - and even his so-called charity work.

Here's another article on the subject:

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-11/cassidy-abbott-cant-simply-ride-out-the-expenses-furore/5014310?WT.mc_id=newsmail

These expenses questions have been known for some time, especially in regard to Mr Abbott. The question is why, after remaining quiet on the issue before the election, has MSM decided at this juncture to pursue it?

Abbott has more serious problems than taking advantage of his travel entitlements, Don!

That he twice repeated in an Asian Forum that Japan was Australia's best friend shows clearly that he has no aptitude for the job of Prime Minister. None!

Let him attend bike races and surf carnival where he is at home. What he says there is of no consequence.

On the world stage, things are different!

I think you'd be battling to find a better example of a questionable expenses claim than this:

http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/1828922/free-reign-pm-tony-abbott-under-fire-for-tamworth-festival-trip-as-expense-scandal-deepens/?cs=159

"HE SWAGGERED down Peel St like a Nashville star, posing in a cowboy hat, dancing a country-style jig and even embracing a mystery blonde holding a “Free Hugs” sign.

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott has found himself in the eye of an expense scandal storm after it emerged his trip to the 2012 Country Music Festival was anything but “free” for taxpayers.

The then-Opposition leader claimed $9347 in work expenses for the whirlwind visit – despite not even staying in the city overnight."

"The parliamentary entitlements register shows taxpayers forked out $8800 for a private return charter flight for Mr Abbott from Sydney to Tamworth on January 25, 2012.

There is no indication on the register of where the other $547 was spent."

?

<<>>..I saw the meetings all as work.>>

yes vendless party time
with the LOBBY..is hard work
but to deal..with the lobnby..is yourchoice

lie down with dogs ya get fleas

why do we elect you
to represent our intrests..not the mobneyed business lobbyinytrests

get it?

<<Other might have thought..I liked the free grog,>>
esteem..being wanted..spoiled flaterd...etc

<<..or party pies,..or whatever was being served.>>up on a platter..or gift bag..or free case of booze..or special mates rates..dealing

or tickets to the next special event..with the lobby..
for a new govt gift?..bailout..or favour

<<..I am a writer, with several projects on the way at any time, fiction and non-fiction...Theoretically I could argue that whatever I did was grist to my mill,..and therefore the costs of my whole life were in a sense tax-deductible...>>

look mate..im..a low wage tax slave
my travel costs NECESSARY..TO MY JOB..arnt even..tax deductible..let alone free

my wage..isnt..even income..[as defined in..the act]
we got IN-come tax..not wage tax..but that dont stop govt stealing us blind..why tax us to death..and bailout those only receiving TRUE income..[ie corporation/and family trusts]

at which..event..was tax free fuel.subsidy=12 billion..gifted
to big business..miners/farmers..plundering our COMMON/weal resources..

not even..taxed properly..thus subsidized
yet again..by us wage slaves.,.free ports ..free rail..free lunch

FREE..infrastructure
[free pipes/poles/wires..anyone?

and the rest of you..keep..extending my patent right
nice money..if you can whisper..it in..the right ear..in between bites of fishy eggs and shampusspain.

All I can say is that if any employee of mine put in an expense claim on grounds as flimsy as some of these that are coming to light, they would be out on their ear. And I'm pretty certain that the same simple "business-only" rules apply to all levels of industry in this country, from the office cleaners right up to the CEO.

Let's first of all stop calling them "entitlements", which indicates that the recipients somehow feel "entitled" to special treatment.

They are not.

They should be called what they are: business-related expenses, and should be scrutinized as such.