Australia: It's Time to Halt The Politicans Gravy Train

I don't really care what political party you support. We each have our own reasons for supporting Liberals, Nationals, Labor, Greens, Pup or even an Independent. That's your business not mine. What I do care about is, the fact that we are all being treated with absolute contempt by greedy politicians. I would like to think we could pull together to send a very strong message that we won't tolerate it any longer.

We have a lot to thank Bronwyn Bishop for. If it hadn't been for her fall from grace the extent of the misuse of taxpayer funds would have remained hidden. Bronwyn was named, shamed and she eventually stepped down from the Speakers role. It is yet to be proven that she committed fraud but she was hounded out of office nevertheless. Whilst many of us were disappointed, we along with the majority said, fair enough.

Over the last few days, we have discovered that the chief attack dog Tony Burke. has committed abuses far exceeding anything levelled at Mrs Bishop, but he is standing firm. To add insult to injury he was today supported by Christopher Pyne. Why? Because Mr Pyne is equally guilty of gross misuse of taxpayers money. They are all feeding from the same trough.

The cry 'it is within the rules' is wearing very, very thin. It may well be, but it certainly doesn't meet the electorates expectations or the fair and reasonable test. It also begs the question, if 'it' is within the rules then why was Mrs Bishop hounded out of office? I'm loath to say this, but I must. Was Mrs Bishop singled out because of her job and because she is a woman? An easy target. After all, even Christopher Pyne joined the 'get rid of Bronwyn' cheer squad toward the end.

We need to send a very strong message. Enough. Taxpayers and others within the electorate have been asked to give up benefits and forego some of the election promises. Whilst there have been protests, the majority of Australians have 'taken it on the chin'. For us to find out what has been going on the Canberra (for years) is galling.  

So how do we send a message? We could organise protests but most Australians aren't interested in that For me, my student protest days are long gone. But, we do have the power of social media. We can tap into thousands of voices, we can get the message quickly and we can gauge the response.

What I am proposing is that we target Tony Abbott, Bill Shorten, Richard Di Natale and Clive Palmer. As leaders of the major parties they need to come together and agree to fix this. This has to be a collective responsibility not one party or government responsibility. Our messages are along the lines of the following.

THE OBJECTIVES:

To make it very clear to our elected political representatives that lavish perks will no longer be tolerated.  This includes but is not restricted to the following list (this is in no particular order)

Personal travel; reason, class, mode and destination.

Family travel entitlements (as above).

Travel for personal staff (as above).

Attending overseas conferences. Is it associated with their portfolio and does it delivers a quantifiable benefit to the electorate.

The acceptance of free gifts; including overseas travel.

THE DESIRED OUTCOME::

A revision of the policy that will see the removal of all current perks that do not deliver a return to taxpayers/voters.

Publication of the revised policy that has been assessed by an external third party; Is it reasonable, does it benefit the electorate, is it consistent with current business practice.

The removal of any currently approved gratuities that places the receiver in a position of a conflict of interest. If any gratuities are permitted, there can be no additional claims under expenses eg Comcars, airfares, accommodation. These are personal expenses paid for by the politician.

 WHAT:

A twitter campaign. I suggest we kick this off on Sunday. We bombard the leaders (and include our local MP's if they are on Twitter). I'm happy to spend sometime putting some stuff together. Anyone who wants to help is most welcome.

If you think this is worthwhile. Send me a DM or RT. Dependant on the response we can decide if it's a worthwhile plan or not. This is about Voters vs Politicians.

Travel Rorts: I'm As Mad As Hell

The disrespect shown to the Australian electorate by selfish, greedy politicians, living the high life, through the errant misuse of our hard earned money, is frankly appalling.

Sarah Hanson-Young is the latest to hit the headlines, slugging taxpayers for travel on the same day she received VIP tickets to attend the Gay Mardi Grae. She justifies this as, promoting equality is part of my job. You don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars to  attend a gay pride party to do that.

….. NONE of this; family holidays, travel to gay pride parties, private planes to football matches, helicopter rides, accepting expensive tickets, privately funded overseas jaunts passes the ‘is it the right thing to do’ test. If our politicians cannot see right from wrong on this issue then how can we trust them to do right by us. The simple answer is we can’t.

If you behaved in business as many of our politicians have, you would be booted out the door quick smart. I’ve worked with people, who in fact have been fired (rightly so) for lavish spend on their company credit card. I’ve worked for large multi-nationals where the acceptance of free gifts was strictly forbidden. To do so, was instant dismissal. As it should be for politicians. The reason is very simple; you leave yourself open to corruption and suspicion. Why risk it.

Politicians have to attend events. It’s expected. From time to time that means taking a partner and this may include air travel, accommodation and limo hire. But it must pass the ‘sniff’ test; be within their electorate, be associated with their portfolio, deliver a quantifiable benefit to taxpayers and the country as a whole. If it can’t, then it must not be allowed.

Under no circumstances, should politicians be allowed to use taxpayers money for family holidays. I sense many within the electorate have been stunned to learn they do. I suspect many taxpayers cannot afford family holidays, so to discover they are paying for well paid politicians families, must be galling.

Prime Minister Abbott has committed to cleaning this up. We will hold him to account. I would go one step further. I would ask for a review of expense claims for all current lower and upper house members going back 5-years. Yes, it will cost, but I believe it is important.
The member will then  publish the findings and the electorate can then be the judge. I have a suspicion, that some of the more sanctimonious amongst the ‘current crop’ may just be found wanting.

Let’s hope Mr Abbott addresses this swiftly,  and the outcome meets ‘the electorate sniff’ test.

Does Tony Burke Pass the Test

Things are not looking good for Tony Burke. One of the lessons he is yet to learn is, if are going to point the finger at others make sure your own house is in order. Burke has been relentess in his attacks on Bronwyn Bishop. Now this is coming back to haunt him bigtime.

There is no question Mrs Bishop has to be held accountable, if in fact it is proven that she fraudulently used tax payer funds. Foolishness is not a hanging offense but fraud is. Mr Burke on the other hand has three questions to answer.

1. Does his use of tax payer funds for family holidays (whilst perhaps within the very loose guidelines) pass the reasonableness test in the electorate
2. What benefits has he delivered to the electorate in accepting personal freebies, does this also pass the reasonableness test in the electorate 
3. What has he promised his benefactors in exchange for his many free gifts

From where I sit I have serious doubts about questions one and two and grave concerns in relationship to number three.

You Be The Judge

People in Glass Houses...

I just need to have a wee rant...

For days we have been swamped by media headlines of the Bronwyn Bishop helicopter ride at taxpayers' expense. Labor MP's falling over each other to climb onto the moral high-ground to condemn. Although the slates of those condemning most loudly are not clean by any stretch.  

Tony Burke the loudest 'Labor mouthpiece', demanding the PM sack Ms Bishop. This from the man that submitted fifteen claims that he was forced to pay back. Not one claim, fifteen. And, there is more hidden in his 'dirty sox drawer' and he knows it. 

For heavens sake, even the "coalition of the banchees" Jones & Lambie chimed in on Q&A last night. Lambie, preaching from the moral high ground is galling. The hide of this woman is astounding.  A woman who does little else other than chase a headline, jumping into the most divisive news story of the day and then sharing her idiotic opinion, to lecture anyone is galling. The same woman who shamefully used poor old Clive Palmer to gain office and then publicly humiliated him and stabbed him in the back. I've no time for Clive Palmer, but Lambie's treatment of him was reprehensible. She has no right to lecture others. 

Yesterday @Riley7News (an avowed Labor supporter) broke the news of Bill Shorten's misuse of travel expenses. A scan of morning news? Not a whisper. The Australian did report it, but buried it under the national news tab, story 15 from memory. 

I guess I should be used to it by now, but it still rankles.