I understand that Ms. Ley was born in Nigeria. Perhaps therein lies a slight hint as to her fast and loose use of other people's money to get what she wants.

The polical pundits (not always right, I know) appear have reached a consensus that Ley is toast this time; they even have a replacement lined up - Slippery Sinidonis, who has own intriguing stories. I once attempted to discuss something with that gentleman via email, only to be told he would 'explain' himself only if I gave him a telephone number so that we could speak to me. Whether he was simply reluctant to commit his 'explanation' to paper (he had had public accusations made against him at the time) or whether he wanted to bamboozle me, or even threaten me, I never found out, because I am not as silly as he thought I was. Anyway, I do hope that the pundits are wrong about his elevation to health minister. If Ley deserves culling, Slippery most certainly does.

The point about culling politicians is this: they all need to go. They have had generations of practice, deceiving, lying and cheating. We now have an actual class of person who doesn't know right from wrong ruling this country. One of them pops up, panting that something 'must be done', but you can bet your most treasured possession that that person claiming that something needs to happen is at it himself with the worst of them; it's inbred, one of the identifying factors od what it means to be a politician. They are all rotten to the core, folks, and it is only we, sneered-at 'ordinary' people, who can do something about it.

ttbn is correct here
We now have an actual class of person who doesn't know right from wrong ruling this country.

They are called sociopaths, and one in 25 folk are afflicted.
This is all very well documented.
They know right from wrong, are highly intelligent, motivated, very often.
However, sadly, they do have judgement but only have regret and remorse 'when caught'. Ring a bell?

My hunch is that the hall of Parliament are overflowing with them. Well worth reading about.
This is a full blown personality disorder.
Once you start to get informed about it, it is terrifying.
They live amongst us, and often attain positions of power, bosses, CEOs, Pollies, PM.

Terry Barnes also believes that Ley will not return to cabinet. In The Spectator online today, he describes her as a "bad minister" who did a "crapulous" job. A very succinct report on one of the 'quota' girlies. With any luck, we will see the polo-loving Foreign Minister put on the rack when parliament finally struggles back to work - if 'work' is the right word for the high life these grubs enjoy at our expense.

Hi Foxy,

Your figures support what I said about a conservative belief in their god given right to rule, and as such a sense of entitlement, which is not as evident within Labor ranks.

Hi Is Mise, your notion that independents and minor party members do not engage in extravagance to the same extent that those of the Liberal and Labor Parties do, is true. There is a couple of reasons for this, not the least that they are never in government, and secondly that they tend to take their responsibility as parliamentarians a bit more serious than the big two members. They over compensate to a degree in doing the morally right thing. Remember Ted Mack. honest to the extreme.

"Greens leader Richard Di Natale and the party’s community ­services spokeswoman Rachel Siewert are among the top 10 spenders on taxpayer-funded flights despite loudly condemning excesses by Coalition and Labor politicians.

Senator Siewert claimed more expenses for domestic flights in the first half of 2016 than her fellow West Australians, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.

Her travel spending was the fifth highest, while Senator Di Natale’s was 10th of the 226 members of both houses of parliament. Senator Siewert claimed $63,934 in travel expenses in six months while Senator Di Natale racked up $56,526."

Shadow, I for one do not have a problem with politicians in general spending taxpayers funds on legitimate taxpayer business. I would expect the PM, and his ministers, along with senior members of the opposition, and others, to rack up a rather substantial bill in that department. Travel is a necessity of government, nor do I expect the likes of the PM to fly cattle class on 'No Star' airlines, heaven forbid he could be sat next to the riff-raff, do you fly often?
What I do have a problem with, and it is quite clear, some politicians engage in extravagance, Bronlyn Bishop's 'Chppergate' is a prime example. Others simply act fraudulently, conducting private affairs at taxpayer expense, Loopy Ley is a prime example of that, Ms Ley, has been caught out, and now she has to pay the penalty.
I made the point, and Foxy provided the evidence, that conservative members of parliament tend to grossly over claim in relation to the claims of other members, and I put this down to an extravagant sense of entitlement. There is no doubt the system needs a major overhaul, as polititions setting their own standards is not acceptable, well it might be to polititions, but not to the rest of the community.