Perhaps it's because Australians don't expect very much from their politicians that recent allegations about some politicians misspending the allowances they receive on top of their very good salaries have quietly slipped out of the media, as most criticisms of politicians usually do.

Until today, the 15th. February. Oscar Godsell for SkyNews (which is a bit more dogged than the ‘lamestream’ media) tells a tale about about Senator Hanson-Young, who is accused of spending $50,000 of taxpayer money on trips for her husband, and Senator Don Farrell, who is supposed to be the Minister for such things, but doesn't seem to know much about the rules.

Senator Hanson-Young has declined Senator Farrell's “suggestion” that she repay the $50,000, but says that she will stop using the “enlightenment”.

If paying for her husband's travel “around the country” is an entitlement, why would she stop doing it?

Senator Farrell wouldn't know: he said that he wasn't “across the rules about travel”, according to Godsell.

Remember, Farrell is supposed to be responsible for the Parliamentary Expenses Authority, but he said that it was up to each individual MP to comply with rules (the rules he admits he isn't “across”). Something some politicians are apparently having trouble doing.

Although Senator Farrell says he is not across the rules that he should be conversant with, he coyly makes the amazing statement that, “ …. Senator Hanson-Young has made a determination about how she will apply the rules”.

Wouldn't it be great if the rest of us could determine how we complied with rules and regulations!

This is an example of the them and us situation where politicians, irrespective of party, are all togetherness when it comes to what they can do, and what the plebs are allowed to do.

Of course, Senator Farrell is himself under “investigation” after allegations that he spent over $100,000 on flights for his wife and ADULT children ( Don is nearing 72 years of age) in 2022. All because he isn't ‘across the rules’ I suppose.

PAULINE HANSON was required to repay over $165,000 to the Australian Electoral Commission in 2021 after a review found election expense claims from the 2020 election were unsubstantiated. She also repaid airfares for a private trip to Norfolk Island after claiming them on taxpayer funds. It was reported that it took four months and multiple reminders for Hanson to repay costs associated with her Norfolk Island trip. Also Hanson charged taxpayers $3,735.07 for a trip that included private political fundraising events in Perth, which she is yet to repay.

THE LOVELY PAULINE IS A HABITUAL SHYSTER MILKING THE TAXPAYER!

Nitwit 1405,

I don't care. If you want to start thread about Pauline Hanson, go for it.