PRIME MINISTER RUDD AND HIS WORLD TOUR AT TAXPAYERS’ EXPENSE

In his first six months in office Kevin Rudd spent $100,000 a month on overseas travel.  Eight other members of his front bench have each spent more than $100,000 over the same period.  The jet setting Kevin 07 also spent $181,064 on chauffeur driven Commonwealth cars but saved on taxi fares, spending only $31.

The first list of travel records for the Rudd Government show the Prime Minister’s frenetic overseas travel schedule has cost taxpayers $600,756.  In addition the records reveal that despite a direction by the Special Minister of State, John Faulkner, for MPs to use frequent flyer schemes only 11 out of 267 redeemed any points.

The total travel bill for MPs’ air and road travel and accommodation was nearly $15 million from January to June.

The Prime Minister made six trips to 16 countries.  The costliest was $427,539 for his 17 day adventurous trek in March and April to the United States to meet the almost defunct President George W Bush and attend the NATO summit in Europe and visit Britain and China.  His post election rush to Bali to sign the Kyoto Protocol cost $70,450 and the bill for his pre-Christmas visit to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan was $34,087.

But he has not yet attained John Howard’s high point.  The former leader spent $844,000 on overseas travel in the second half of 2005 show the Trade Minister Simon Crean was the second most travelled politician with 7 trips to countries including Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, India, France, China, the US, Switzerland and New Zealand at a cost of $325,477.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon made six trips to 8 countries at a cost of $176,515.  Bob McMullan, the Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for aid, spent $163,219 on 13 trips to 19 counties.  Senator Kim Carr, the Industry Minister, ticked up $157,989 visiting five countries.

The sixth most travelled was foreign Minister Stephen Smith, with 9 trips to 18 countries at a cost of $148,225.

The overall cost of overseas travel for all MPs was $3.59 million.

The domestic flying bill peaked at $4.16 million for all MPs but only $21,331 was redeemed with frequent flyer points.

It cost 1.9 million to give MP private plated cars, $1.67 million for them to use white Commonwealth cars and they claimed $2.15 million in away from home travel allowance.

Taxpayers also paid $710,000 for air travel for 151 former MPs with the Perth based former Labor Leader, Kim Beazley, leading the way with a $24,907 bill.

A little more than $122,500 was spent on domestic air fares and vehicle use for the 5 former Prime Ministers.

John Howard spent $48,207 on Commonwealth cars and $2,865 on air fares.