Post by ppyenews on Jun 24, 2006 0:51:30 GMT -5
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye.
There has been a few reports lately on the costs incurred by Federal Politicians for International travel. Reports say that Prime Minister John Howard spent almost $48,000 a day on a trip to the US last year and a total of just over $844,000 in overseas travel for the year. The Prime Minister’s trip to the US for the United Nations leaders’ summit from September 11 to 18 cost $382,473, or $47,809 a day. A July 2005 trip to the US, Britain and Iraq over 13 days cost just over $342,000. His cheapest trip was to the Pacific Summit in Papua New Guinea, which cost $7165.
The next biggest spender was Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Mark Vaile, whose overseas travel costs were close to $268,000. Treasurer Peter Costello’s three trips to Indonesia, South Korea, the US and China, cost $104,000. Other big spending ministers included former Defence Minister Robert Hill ($175,000), Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane ($165,000) and Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer ($158,000).
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley spent just over $11,000. The biggest Labor Party bill for travel abroad was $45,000 for foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd.
The reports quote that more than $16 million was spent on politicians travel in the six-month period, including $4.6 million on domestic airfares, $2.4 million in travel allowances and $1.5 million on chauffeured cars for MPs and senators. Taxpayers also forked out more than $50,000 on travel expenses - including airfares and “COMCAR” trips for four former prime ministers during the period.
Malcolm Fraser, a Former Liberal PM, cost taxpayers $17,000 in travel bills with Labor's Gough Whitlam spending about $15,000. As a result of the figures some interesting details on the travel habits of Politicians have been revealed. Liberal Minister for Workforce Participation Sharman Stone spent $61,000 on a 13-day visit to the US, Canada and the UK in November. Part of her brief was to "visit national portrait galleries" in each country.
The Federal Opposition has accused Prime Minister John Howard of spending an unreasonable amount on overseas travel. ‘Chris Bowen’, the Chairman of Labor's “Wastewatch” Committee, says politicians' travel should be more efficient and economical. He says "I think the average taxpayer would expect that Members of Parliament need to travel but it doesn't need to be the best hotel in London every time, it doesn't need to be the best hotel and the best room in Washington every time, it doesn't need to be a huge entourage for everyone every time - there's a test about what's reasonable," he said.
There is some merit in Mr. Bowens comments however the ALP has a short memory. It forgets that former Prime Minister Bob Hawke was also mentioned by the then opposition party as being an elaborate spender on overseas travel. It is also a decade since a Labor Prime Minister has been in power, a decade of massively increased travel costs, of increased Globalisation resulting in Australia’s presence being required at International forums, and an increased cost for any Prime Minister on overseas travel is Security. We are at War with Terrorist Countries or has everyone forgotten.
It is about time Kim Beazley and his Labor Party got down to the business of effectively running the ALP instead of fabricating “C**k ‘n’ Bull” stories to make it look as though the opposition is doing the wrong thing. And Mr. Howard, maybe a little less ‘Pomp’ on your overseas visits to look impressive could be a smart idea.
I’m Phillip Pye.
There has been a few reports lately on the costs incurred by Federal Politicians for International travel. Reports say that Prime Minister John Howard spent almost $48,000 a day on a trip to the US last year and a total of just over $844,000 in overseas travel for the year. The Prime Minister’s trip to the US for the United Nations leaders’ summit from September 11 to 18 cost $382,473, or $47,809 a day. A July 2005 trip to the US, Britain and Iraq over 13 days cost just over $342,000. His cheapest trip was to the Pacific Summit in Papua New Guinea, which cost $7165.
The next biggest spender was Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Mark Vaile, whose overseas travel costs were close to $268,000. Treasurer Peter Costello’s three trips to Indonesia, South Korea, the US and China, cost $104,000. Other big spending ministers included former Defence Minister Robert Hill ($175,000), Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane ($165,000) and Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer ($158,000).
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley spent just over $11,000. The biggest Labor Party bill for travel abroad was $45,000 for foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd.
The reports quote that more than $16 million was spent on politicians travel in the six-month period, including $4.6 million on domestic airfares, $2.4 million in travel allowances and $1.5 million on chauffeured cars for MPs and senators. Taxpayers also forked out more than $50,000 on travel expenses - including airfares and “COMCAR” trips for four former prime ministers during the period.
Malcolm Fraser, a Former Liberal PM, cost taxpayers $17,000 in travel bills with Labor's Gough Whitlam spending about $15,000. As a result of the figures some interesting details on the travel habits of Politicians have been revealed. Liberal Minister for Workforce Participation Sharman Stone spent $61,000 on a 13-day visit to the US, Canada and the UK in November. Part of her brief was to "visit national portrait galleries" in each country.
The Federal Opposition has accused Prime Minister John Howard of spending an unreasonable amount on overseas travel. ‘Chris Bowen’, the Chairman of Labor's “Wastewatch” Committee, says politicians' travel should be more efficient and economical. He says "I think the average taxpayer would expect that Members of Parliament need to travel but it doesn't need to be the best hotel in London every time, it doesn't need to be the best hotel and the best room in Washington every time, it doesn't need to be a huge entourage for everyone every time - there's a test about what's reasonable," he said.
There is some merit in Mr. Bowens comments however the ALP has a short memory. It forgets that former Prime Minister Bob Hawke was also mentioned by the then opposition party as being an elaborate spender on overseas travel. It is also a decade since a Labor Prime Minister has been in power, a decade of massively increased travel costs, of increased Globalisation resulting in Australia’s presence being required at International forums, and an increased cost for any Prime Minister on overseas travel is Security. We are at War with Terrorist Countries or has everyone forgotten.
It is about time Kim Beazley and his Labor Party got down to the business of effectively running the ALP instead of fabricating “C**k ‘n’ Bull” stories to make it look as though the opposition is doing the wrong thing. And Mr. Howard, maybe a little less ‘Pomp’ on your overseas visits to look impressive could be a smart idea.
I’m Phillip Pye.