Travel allowance rules should change for MPs who own Canberra property: former senator

  • 📰 smh
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 37 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 18%
  • Publisher: 80%

Australia Headlines News

Australia Latest News,Australia Headlines

More than one in four parliamentarians own property in the ACT, and a former senator says it doesn’t pass the pub test for them to claim taxpayer funds to stay in places they or their colleagues own.

More than one in four federal parliamentarians own a property in the nation’s capital, prompting a former senator to criticise the travel entitlements system, which allows MPs to claim taxpayer funds to stay in houses or flats they or their colleagues own.

Nearly 24 per cent of MPs and about a third of senators own property in the ACT, analysis of their register of interests showed, excluding representatives from the territory. Patrick said while it was reasonable for politicians travelling great distances to have a secondary residence in Canberra, or an investment property, using taxpayer money to help pay down their mortgages did not pass the pub test.

“This is, in effect, property nepotism. And it would be appropriate for the government to place restrictions on it.”Some politicians, such as Sydney Labor backbencher Michael Freelander, who has an ACT property under his spouse’s name, claim a daily travel allowance of $310 a day when they are in Canberra.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 6. in AU

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Peter Dutton criticises people for not supporting Barnaby Joyce on Canberra footpathOpposition leader Peter Dutton says people should have helped Barnaby Joyce, instead of filming the Nationals MP laying on a Canberra footpath last week.
Source: SBSNews - 🏆 3. / 89 Read more »

The ‘right to disconnect’ debate continues in CanberraTrusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.
Source: abc730 - 🏆 14. / 63 Read more »

Canberra Considers Expanding Territory by Shifting BorderThe Australian capital, Canberra, is looking to expand its territory by shifting the border to include land in New South Wales. The Chief Minister believes that more housing is needed in Canberra, which is becoming a popular place to live. One development project would see the border run through the Parkwood area.
Source: abc730 - 🏆 14. / 63 Read more »

Newcastle Herald, Canberra Times: Antony Catalano wants to sell three of his biggest newspapersThe former Domain boss has discussed selling The Newcastle Herald, Illawarra Mercury and Canberra Times back to Nine.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »

‘Hardworking and dedicated’ Canberra father dies climbing Mount Kilimanjaro7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Source: 7NewsSydney - 🏆 16. / 63 Read more »

Tom Green's Mum the Real MVP in CanberraGiants skipper Toby Greene has matured into a fine mentor of men, according to teammate Josh Kelly.
Source: FOXSportsAUS - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »