UPDATE—SEPTEMBER 2005---PART TWO

AUSTRALIAN POLITITIANS CONTINUE TO BLUDGE AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE

Besides their 4.1% pay rise, State MP’s have been given lots of more than generous increases to their taxpayer-funded perks by the so called Independent Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal which were originally appointed by the government of the day. So much, for being an Independent Agency. .

MPs electoral allowance rise by 2.4% office equipment expenses by 3.5% and the Sydney allowance for non-metropolitan MPs on business visits to the City by a massive 29%.

These increases will come into force while MPs are enjoying an 11 weeks week holiday at we, the taxpayers expense with no Parliament sittings during July and August.

This follows on top of the Salary increases from July 1, which takes Premier Bob Carr’s wage to $261, 625, nearly $70,000 more than he received when first elected in 1995. Deputy Premier Mr. Refshauge’s new wage is $224, 620 while senior Ministers will receive $213,555 and opposition Leader John Brogden $202,490, while backbenches will now receive $110, 650 in comparison to $76,938 ten years ago. The 135 MPs bill has risen to a cost of $17 million a year according to a 45-page report by Tribunal Chairman, Justine Roger Boland.

He rejected a recommendation by NSW Auditor – General Bob Send that the entire details of MPs allowances be made public to meet standards of transparency and accountability.

The greatest jackpot in the pay perks package awarded by Justine Boland, for the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, is the increase in the Sydney allowance, which is currently received by at least half of our elected members.

The daily allowance is paid to MPs from non – Sydney electorates to cover to cost of their accommodation, meals and expenses whilst in the Capital City on Parliamentary Business.

Ministers who live outside Sydney are entitled to $200 per day for a maximum of 180 over – night stays a year, or nearly 6 months.

This has been increased from the pervious $180 per day for 140 over – night stays.

MP WANTS HIS MILLION POINTS

In a report from the Daily Telegraph, Wednesday July 20, 2005 by Nicolette Burke.

Kerr’s holiday plans at year expense.

A Federal politician with a history of travel rorts has announced he plans to take free holidays overseas on the public purse.

Duncan Kerr has sent a letter to his Parliamentary colleagues saying he will use frequent flyer points accrued during his government business travel for his personal gain, and urges others to do the same.

With 1 million points, the Labor MP called travel from his Tasmanian home to London in business class four times.

Mr. Kerr a former Labor Attorney – General has pored over the regulations and said he has found no legal basis stopping use of frequent Flyer points for travel.

The practice is discouraged within Parliament and has been condemned as unethical by the Remuneration Tribunal the agency responsible for politicians’ perks.

But a loophole could mean it is already a widespread scam. The Federal Government has admitted it cannot monitor and does not keep records on the use of the points as it is a private transaction between the traveller and the airline.

Estimates suggest 15 years’ parliamentary service could produce more than a million points, more for those who travel more often with a portfolio. That means federal MPs could have tens of millions of points.

Mr. Kerr’s stance has received little support from parliamentary colleagues, with one Labour source saying he was “out on his own.” Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he did not approve of the practice.

It is Mr. Kerr’s first foray into the travel perk debate since it was revealed last year that the took he his girlfriend on a taxpayer – funded trip to Japan despite not living with her at the time. He had previously supported the continuation of the lifetime gold pass, providing for travel for retired politicians.

“So long as (the points) are being conferred, there’s not public benefit to be had by preventing there use for extra travel,” Mr. Kerr said. “It’s a rather foolish approach to let the points die with the people.

From the $4.5 million in parliamentary travel conducted each year, just $5,145 in travel was paid for with frequent flyer points, he said.

“The points can’t be used practically by parliamentarians for peak – time travel.”

“All that is being achieved by members’ and Senators’ compliance with the Government’s purported directions is that the airlines are being saved from having to provide the benefit of frequent flyer points, which could be used for family holidays and other travel at periods of low demand.”

The overseas of parliamentary perks, special Minister of State Eric Abetz, said it was an ethical issue that parliamentarians should not benefit privately from the scheme.

“Mr. Kerr might be acting legally, be he is clearly not doing the right thing by the taxpayer. That he should be spending his time and resources as an MP digging up potential loopholes for self- benefit is indicative of Labor’s priorities,” Mr. Abetz said.

But Members and Senators contacted by the Daily Telegraph would not comment publicly.

WHY OUR ELECTED MEMBERS ARE BLUDGING ON AUSTRALIAN TAXPAYERS

Elected members of Federal, State or Local Government who travel overseas at taxpayers’ expense on the pretext to study, tours and Sister City visits are bludging on the Australian Community whereas they could remain at home and gain all the answers required for Government Policy and Infrastructure by accessing the World Wide Web (www) of the internet. Every piece of information required is as close as your commuter. Its time Australians stood as one and put an end to this rort.

EFTPOS CHARGES TO RISE WHICH BANK?

Yes, that Banks latest plot is to increase EFTPOS charges continuing their outstanding record of grabbing every dollar they can squeeze out of their customers. In the Commonwealth Bank’s pipeline is a 67% increase in fee charges for EFTPOS transactions in excess of 15 per months. In reality, the first 15 EFTPOS charges you chalk up per month will cost you 30 cents each. All transactions above that limit will cost you 50 cents.

Calculate the number of times you make an EFTPOS purchase per month. Then work out how many auto-teller transactions you make as well and determine the charges, being aware that you pay an identical fee for those transactions as well. It is wroth remembering the banks are responsible for encouraging us to diversity from face to face services by staying out of their branches and to shop using our plastic cards.

Add insult to injury the Commonwealth Bank wants to hit us with additional extra charges.

AUSTRALIAN DEFECTOR – MURDOCH PRAISES PM HOWARD

Prime Minister John Howard had forged a bond with the United States (US) of unprecedented strength, Rupert Murdock said yeaterday.

Mr. Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News, Corporation, parent company of News Ltd, which publishes many Australian Newspapers including the Daily telegraph, told a business audience in Washington that the US and Australia worked together best, when united by a crisis.

When Mr. Howard became Prime Minister in 1996, US – Australian relations had drifted to their lowest point since before the 1942 battle of the Coral Sea, when US and Australian forces united to turn back the Japanese advance he said.

“This was not due to any formal breach but to Washington’s preoccupation with other matters, and a wish on the part of some Australians to end what they considered their country’s overdependence on America,” he said.

“Without any common threat to unify is it seemed as if our two countries might grow apart.” That all changed with the advent of Global terrorism and Mr. Howard had proved himself a stead fast ally, true friend and a good citizen of the world.

Mr. Murdoch was introducing Mr. Howard at a function co-hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce and the Australian – American Association, of which Mr. Murdoch is Patron.

These aforementioned comments were attributed to Rupert Murdoch a man who did a Judas by relinquishing his Australian Citizenship to become a citizen of the United States for the sake of monetary gains. This same man has allowed Australian taxpayers to subsidise Foreign Multi – Nationals including his Australian investments under the Menzies “Dual Reciprication Agreement 1953.” We have no doubt that in 2004 Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd was moved off shore onto the New York Stock Exchange, in the hope of increasing profits at the expense of the Australian Taxpayers.

It should be noted that not one of Rupert Murdoch’s Newspaper reported prior to the 2004 Federal Election one word re: the concessions that was conceeded to the Bush Government by the Howard Coalition which is tilted very lopsided in favour of the United States, re: the US – Australia Free Trade Agreement. Its because of this cover-up by the Murdoch Press that we ask you, whose side or which Country do you think Rupert Murdoch gives his first preference to?
if you may we suggest you link … UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2004 and November 2004 and realise how the majority of the journalists from the print and electronic media have covered up the true situation re: the Free Trade deal.

It’s hard to believe an Australian government could sign a deal which so betrays Australia’s interest.

How to Kill a Country demonstrates how the FTA as negotiated will seriously damage Australia’s institutions, interests and identity.

Three of Australia’s leading policy analysts have investigated the fine print of Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with the United States. What they found is that the lopsidedness of the deal is just the beginning of the story. Most harmful is the sacrifice of our national autonomy and control over key institutions that underpin our prosperity.

· Our medicines will be more expensive because the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be undermined, and competition from generics will be almost extinguished.

· Our agriculture exports will be compromised because we open the door to new pests and diseases.

· Our top exports – beef, dairy, wine and steel –will not see the full removal of tariffs and quotes for up to 18 years.

· ‘Buy American’ norms will prevail over ‘Buy Australian’ in our government procurement markets.

· Royalty flows to the United States will increase through greater protection for US patents and copyrights.

The Australian government claims the FTA will boost Australia’s exports and local economy. The reality is that the FTA overturns Australia’s laws and institutions, and turns the country into an appendage of the United States. Australia faces the prospect of becoming a ‘Vanishing Country’ – in the way that Canada is described, 15 years after signing its FTA with the United States.

“How to Kill a Country”

By Professors Weiss and Mathews and Dr. Thurbon.

Published By Allen & Unwin