YOUR SAY: Are pollies taking travel allowances for a ride?
POLITICIANS' travel allowance was a hot topic of conversation on the Daily's Facebook after the federal parliamentary entitlement figures were revealed.
Former Fisher MP Peter Slipper has finished a close second behind Labor's Steven Smith in the spend-up-big Lifetime Gold Pass travel stakes according to the latest data on federal parliamentary entitlements.
Much of the $8557.16 bill he presented to taxpayers followed the familiar path of his parliamentary career, flights from Brisbane via Sydney.
Mr Smith, a former West Australian member of the House of Representatives and also a Minister for Defence, Trade and Foreign Affairs, received $9038.12.
Data supplied through the Department of Finance however has revealed that the total hit by former parliamentarians on the public purse from the scheme has been relatively minimal compared even with some of Mr Slipper's claims while a member of the House of Representatives.
Eligibility for the Lifetime Gold Pass scheme requires 20 years' service as a senator, parliamentarian or parliamentary secretary. Serving one year as prime minister or surviving seven parliaments as a senator or member also qualifies for 10 domestic return trips annually.
We asked readers whether they believed politicians should be entitled to travel allowance.
Here is a snapshot of your conversation.
The"Marco Polo" of Federal Parliament during his 23 years in office has lost none of his appetite for travel after...
Posted by Sunshine Coast Daily on Wednesday, 8 July 2015
Shirley Palmer: They should not be in entitled to this. It should be like the rest of us. When you lose your job. You lose all your entitlements. Same as there super. No wonder the country's in such debt.
Mark Poulter: They overindulge in everything. It is about time the taxpayer did not have to shoulder the burden for this extravagance. Politicians should have the same entitlements as the average Aussie on leaving a job/position!
Geoff Messenger: No more perks at all. Entitlements are to be the same as any other worker once the job is finished. Not that any useless politician has ever earned his pay.
Rebecca Morgan Want to help reduce Australia's debt that's where cuts should begin.
Joshua Tunley: They should have the same pay and entitlements as the average Australian. See how long things stay the same way.
Judy Dungey: They are rewarded while on the job, it's wasteful, to say the very least, that they continue long after their positions have been discontinued, to be rewarded with outrageous freebies.
