Lynda Hansen
On June 7, the Courier Mail warned voters that the person they elect will cost taxpayers more than $600,000 to keep in office.
Perks have driven the total cost to taxpayers of keeping the 226 federal MPs and senators in parliament to more than $350 million a year.
A report by the National Audit Office in 2001 estimated that the total cost to taxpayers of parliamentarians' entitlements in 1999-2000 — with three fewer MPs and senators than today — was $354.2 million. Former MPs still hold the controversial "Life Gold Pass" that grants them unlimited domestic air travel after 20 years in office.
Not only is it expensive, it means that our pollies have little idea what life is like for the rest of us. It delivers us the greedy in government.
Various politicians have made noises about the Pollie Perk issue — ALP Leader Mark Latham has appointed a caucus committee to review all aspects of MPs' entitlements before the election and Independent MP Peter Andren has suggested a public debate. However, this is nowhere near enough.
The Socialist Alliance is demanding that the books should be opened to reveal how tax dollars are spent to all of us — not just in an internal inquiry.
If elected, a Socialist Alliance candidate would reject the perks and personal payouts of parliamentary office and accept only the average skilled worker's wage. All the other funds available would be spent to fight reactionary polices and promote the mass campaigns that can defeat the attacks on jobs and living standards.
[Lynda Hansen is the Socialist Alliance candidate for the Queensland seat of Griffith.]
From Green Left Weekly, July 7, 2004.
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