Hi Poirot,

There has been a widespread outbreak of 'Snoutitis' among the Coalition members in Canberra. The symptoms are rather obvious, firstly; one develops an overwhelming feeling of entitlement, followed shortly after by a desire to imitate the court of Louis XVI, wanting to create with fellow sufferers a modern day Palace of Versailles, with a gold plated helicopter replacing the traditional golden cartage. It is said some suffers become delusional in the extreme, one well known female poly believes she is the reincarnation of Marie Antoinette, now sitting in parliament muttering "let them eat cake!" The disease is very contagious and often spread by close contact in the party room with other like minded Liberals. Although the general public are themselves immune from 'Snoutits' the symptoms of those effected can be rather taxing on them, creating much jaundice in the hip pocket of the taxpayer, a variant of the disease the infected never seem to contract. The only known cure for this political disease of indulgence is to spend a long period of time sitting on the opposition benches, and then the rest of their life convalescing well away from the parliament where they can longer contract the disease, and infect others.

p/s One extremely virulent strain of 'Snoutitis' will see the suffer suddenly overcome with an uncontrollable desire to fly first class to "Disneyland" accompanied by a plane load of family members, sycophants and lackeys. Where is Tone today?

The Greens are not immune,

<GREENS Senator Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000 to fit out her trendy Paddington office – more than any of her Queensland political colleagues at the time.

The office, on the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce, includes a rooftop patio with timber outdoor furniture and artificial turf.>

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-greens-senator-larissa-waters-spent-414000-on-fitout-for-paddington-office/story-fnihsrf2-1226889449998

Yeah, but...otb...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-30/department-of-finance-spends-millions-refitting-mps-offices/6585122

"Federal parliamentarians have criticised the Department of Finance's spend of more than $4.5 million on office "fit-outs" for MPs and senators in the final six months of last year."

"The Finance Department is responsible for fitting out offices, and updates the public record on parliamentary entitlements, travel and office costs twice per year."

"South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said parliamentarians currently have little to no say on the amount spent on their offices.

"The MPs want certain refurbishments done in their offices to make them functional. They don't know how much it will cost," he said."

"But many MPs did not want to talk on camera because they did not want to wear blame for a process they had no control over.

Two MPs told 7.30 the Finance Department can make life "rather difficult".

The Finance Department declined to comment on individual cases, but a spokeswoman said Commonwealth procurement guidelines were followed to make sure value for money was achieved."

But you go right ahead, otb...after all, you're obviously desperate to have something to pin on the Greens : )

Nice try Beach, but still pathetic. Unless that office fit out included a set of rota blades on the roof so Larissa could do a Bronnie and wiz around the country at taxpayers expense it has diddly squat to do with travel rorts!

The lurks and perks, together with the very high salaries and retirement privileges, are part of the leveraged bribes paid by the acquisitions community, who personally create no goods or services (i.e. wealth) whatsoever, to the politicians and mandarins in return for which that these recipients will structure the system to enable ever-increaing acquisition of wealth without creating it.

The leveraging is achieved by funding the political parties' electoral campaigns to place the reward of massive taxpayer-funded emoluments in reach of those who, marshalled through their party whips, keep on selling out the electors by delivering the booty to those fund them.

To explain what the pollies deliver to Mr Greed and why, follow the money trail.

Paul1405,

Of course it is one GREENS Senator Larissa Waters' politicians' perks/ entitlements.

However, as a signed-up Green your robotic knee-jerk reaction is to defend GREENS Senator Larissa Waters for spending a whopping $414,000 to fit out her trendy Paddington office.

Why don't you read the comments from the outraged public, not that Larissa is caring.

She didn't choose any of the more convenient surrounding suburbs where there are overflows of excellent office space and the lessors were offering discount and fit-out incentives.

The Greens are hypocrites for never applying the same rules to themselves that they do to others. Sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander where the Greens are concerned.