I could not agree more.

Of course the biggest rort is politicians being paid allowances equivalent to the cost of a five star hotel for staying in Canberra when Parliament is sitting. We know that most of them don't stay in hotels but instead rent a flat (often shared) and pocket the savings of maybe a couple of hundred dollars a night (tax free).

There is also the matter of private travel billed to the taxpayer. It is not unknown for federal politicians in winter time, for example, to seek a swim in the warm Queensland surf. All they need to do is to arrange a minor official meeting of some sort during the trip and the taxpayer pays the tab.

In this environment no wonder the average taxpayer is fearful that tax rises (like the proposed hike in GST to 15% or bracket creep rises in income taxes) will just fund more waste.

All politicians supposed spend within the system but we all know thhat their interpretation and ours are completely different. The current speaker would not have repaid money if she hadn't been pinged. She said her apology was paying the money back. That was no apology she had misused her entitlement. Also to apologise is to admit you are wrong and she would never do that.

It's not a good look, whoever is doing it!

And probably a good time for a complete review of pollies entitlements? And possibly an election issue?

For mine there should be a reasonable bucket of finite money for every member, to be used how and when they see fit?

Going over those limits, higher for a minister or shadow, should see additional outlays coming from the member's own pocket!

The incentive to use the money wisely would come with any unspent allowance added tax free to the member's salary?
Rhrosty

I agree with the author's comments.
Perhaps, somewhat 'tongue in cheek' all pollies should get a 'substantial' fixed trough of taxpayer-funded election buying money aka pollies in New Guinea so they can openly buy votes at election times [and perhaps other times when it suits them] and pay for their 'study trips'.

Self-interest reigns supreme in both Houses - we get the politicians we deserve until there is a public demand for transparency and an accompanying heavy reduction of perks the rot will just continue.

To aspire to become a politician to represent the people should be the greatest aim of young people and old rather than becoming a 'lackey of the Party' and an unabashed 'legal?'rorter of the first order from the PM and Opposition Leader down.

As per Edmund Burke, "All it takes for evil to flourish is good men [and women] who do nothing!"

Pollies are not, however doing nothing, they are sacrificially swilling in the monetary pig troughs . . . . Oh Dear - how unfortunate that we still have freedom of speech!

Of course John the mantra of the regressives is to do what I say not what I do. Gillard was an expert at it. Lets not talk about the thousand that flew to the gw luv fest in CopenHagen or Rudd's luv fest in Canberra with 1000 of the countries brains (regressives) hand picked.

Megachemlb

Your illegal drugs list fits In well with this heading...let those without sin...