Dear Individual,

Howard has cost the taxpayer far more than any of the previous former
PMs. And that's saying something. Plus, try to get the
facts of what Howard neglected during his time in office
that ended up costing much more to fix once he got kicked out.

The disengagement from politics has been under way for years,
driven by parties that promise growth and improved lifestyle
with no strings or sacrifice attached. Voters know this is
nonsense yet they still mark down politicians when, they don't
deliver.

Howard has cost the taxpayer far more than any of the previous former
PMs. And that's saying something.
Foxy,
aye but he's also put more money into the till than any of his successors & that's saying something also.

Dear Indy,

But at what cost to Australia?
And the neglect that crept in to our asset base is still
not rectified on many fronts - and will end up costing a fortune to
fix.

"aye but he's also put more money into the till than any of his successors...."

Howard sold $72 billion dollars worth of government assets.....

That is saying something.

Here's an example of Mr Howard's style:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/pm-notches-up-record-jet-bill/story-e6freuzi-1111114456294

"PRIME Minister John Howard has set a new record for his taxpayer-funded RAAF VIP jet taxi service between Sydney and Canberra.

Because Mr Howard chooses to live at Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour and not at PM's official residence at The Lodge in Canberra, he uses a VIP jet to commute from home to work and back whenever Parliament sits.

During 2006 the flight bill to taxpayers was $187,530 for direct operating costs (fuel, spares, crew) or $1.6 million based on the full cost (lease, overheads) to the RAAF of operating two Boeing 737 business jets and four smaller eight-seat Canadair VIP jets for the Government."

During 2006 the flight bill to taxpayers was $187,530 for direct operating costs
Poirot,
Prime Ministerial pay history
Effective date Salary
2 June 1999 $289,270
6 September 2006 $309,270
1 July 2007 $330,356
1 October 2009 $340,704[3]
1 August 2010 $354,671[4]
1 July 2011 $366,366
1 December 2011 $440,000
15 March 2012 $481,000[5]
1 July 2012 $495,430[6]
1 July 2013 $507,338[7]
Salary
The prime minister is the highest-paid member of parliament.
Ministerial salary is expressed as an additional percentage on top of the basic parliamentary salary. The Remuneration Tribunal's Report Number 1 of 2006[8] confirms the prime minister's additional salary as 160% of her or his parliamentary salary, i.e. the prime minister earns in total 260% of the salary of an ordinary parliamentarian.
The prime minister's salary is about five times that of the average full-time adult salary of $67,116, as of February 2010.[9]

individual - The salary of US president Obama is $400,000 a year.

So our prime ministers is worth $107,338 per year more, something wrong with that.