Got this in an email just now:

If this is true it can only be described as sickening. Disgraceful !

Six elected members of the federal government have made the decision not to run in the upcoming election! This is an exceptionally high number compared to previous elections. Some of them tell us that it is for family reasons, others for their desire to serve their fellow citizens in other fields and some for other laudable reasons to make us feel for them. Methinks there might just be a more pertinent reason for this exodus.

In 2015 a change in the pension conditions for MP's mandated that the age of full retirement for an MP, having served a minimum of all of 6 years, will no longer be 55 years but will change to 65 years as of the coming election. This means any MP who has served 6 years or longer and is not yet 65 can retire on the benefit from the present pension scheme entitling them to draw a government pension of over $100,000/year for the years until they are 65 as well as beyond. For an elected MP approaching 55 who does not stand for reelection, that means $1 million that they would not receive should they run and win again. There is also a severance premium (between $80,000 and $125,000) upon his/her departure.

You can now better understand all these sudden "family emergencies", appreciate the newfound desire to advance a career in a government job or a committee of some sort and have two or more salaries (and possibly two or more pensions).

Not bad as a justification to not run . The best pension scheme designed and voted in for politicians by politicians but paid for by each of us. Democracy, for the people by the people. I think not

Porcorum in pascuntur canalibus.

Ridiculum est qui posuit in porcos
is Mise,
This is according to Mr Google !