Dear runner,

Thanks for that.

And I won't blame Mr Abbott if you stop
blaming Julia Gillard.
Quid pro quo.

The money in both cases was paid back.

runner,

I'd love to stop blaming Abbott...but he keeps running up bills to the taxpayer for his own private jaunts.

Dare I say, he's admitted to another one today.

To none other than than Peter Slipper's wedding.

"It was revealed yesterday that Mr Abbott repaid more than $1,000 he claimed for a trip to Ms Mirabella's wedding, while he confirmed today that he also repaid more than $600 he claimed to attend Mr Slipper's wedding."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-07/abbott-defends-use-of-entitlements-to-attend-weddings/5002214

The usual tack being that once the media is alerted that something might be amiss, then he races off to pay it back.

(That's not including his "volunteer" work for which he also claims expenses from the taxpayer)

Poirot, according to the conservatives Slipper is gay. So did Abbott attend a gay wedding, at taxpayers expense, something he wouldn't approve of, the wedding that is, not the taxpayers cash!
What about that gutter snake an out and out scum bag, Peter Reith, one who ripped of the taxpayer, gave his kid his taxpayer phone to make 'free' calls with. He's out there justifying Coalition rip offs. The bloke was a dog in government and he hasn't changed.

Paul,

Here's Tone doing his usual um...ahh...um...ahh...explanation of his "inadvertent" claim for Slipper's wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j8RzWZpubA&feature=youtu.be&a

Note how he advises is there's any doubt, MP's should rush off and repay (unless your name is Slipper and when you offer to repay you are informed that someone "anonymous" has dobbed you into the AFP - so you won't be afforded the luxury of repaying)

Notice how Abbott runs away "really quickly" when journalists seek to ask him questions.

True to recent form.....

Rache,

That Howard hotel incident wasn't related to his UK cricket visit - it was part of his $1 million European Tour fortnight and happened in Rome.

It was 4 nights in a Royal Suite for $171,000 – including the $10,000 late checkout fee.

As for Travelling Allowance, I don't know what the current Daily Rate is in Canberra (although it's higher than Sydney) but would be about $400/day TAX FREE.

Every time you hear about politicians "sharing flats" or "living in converted garages" during parliamentary sessions, remember they are getting that daily rate every day, no questions asked and no receipts required.

If they can live on $400/week they simply pocket the rest. Not a bad tax-free bonus, considering they seem to write off all other expenses. If they attend a function with free food, they still claim the full rate.

Politicians don't make claims "in error" - they must personally sign every claim and nobody rakes in that sort of cash in total ignorance of where it is coming from.

Paul140 - Slipper isn't gay but Ashby certainly is. His current partner was previously associated with a particular "mincing poodle" at a visit to a gay resort some years ago - the same "poodle" who was behind the scenes having secret meetings with Ashby and dealing on behalf of Mal Brough. There is much more to come out here.
Mud was thrown for a purpose but the story remains long after the purpose has been achieved.

Runner - Gillard paid her claim back as leader of the Opposition back in 2007.
Abbott's claim was from 2006.

Punchy Shonky Abbott paid his back only after he was caught out in the last few days in the wake of Joyce and Brandis (and others yet to come).

"Only just brought to his attention?"
Like his payback for his dodgey Battlelines book tour - another lie.

Paul, Parrot, Wobbles, et al,

If you want to see lavish and frequent over seas trips, you only need to look at Kevin 747 as PM and FM, Juliar, and many Labor MPs. The rules regarding entitlement is very fuzzy. However, as all expenses are submitted to parliament and available to all through FOI, these can be reviewed and refunds requested.

The reason that Slipper (labor's speaker) is facing court is not because he claimed entitlements he was not supposed to, but rather because it appears that he falsified the documents, which if proven is fraud.

Roughly the same happens in business. If I go overseas, my expenses are paid on company credit card, I submit the receipts and am expected to repay personal expenses. The $40 bottle of wine at dinner is living expenses and is acceptable, the $15 movie ticket or other entertainment is not unless I am with a client. Much of it depends on my honesty, and the determination of the accountant reviewing it. I get a list of items I need to repay, and I do so, and no one blinks an eye.

If, however, I were to falsify any documents to get them accepted and was caught, I would be instantly fired, and possibly referred to the police.