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Hold our politicians to account? We can only try.

Details: Category: Political Corruption; Created: Wednesday, 11 January 2017 20:40; Written by Neil Hogan - The Aim Network

I think the time has finally arrived where we call all politicians for what they have become: parasites.

They will not change their ways until we ‘force’ them to change their ways, so I suggest we all become active players in the game of politics. Namely, as many people as possible should turn up whenever a politician is going to make a public announcement or simply appear in public – no matter which party they represent – and we make our presence seen and our voices heard. Call them for what they have become, as in ‘self-interested parasites’ until they prove otherwise. And to do this we expect they advocate for a Federal ICAC, and politician’s entitlements and expenses in line with standard business practices.

Why should they be able to:

a) be paid $270 per night to stay away from home in a house that is family owned (and probably negatively geared)

b) retire from politics (or not be re-elected) and claim their superannuation while being in other paid employment

c) retire from politics leave and immediately take up a position as a political adviser or political lobbyist. There should be at least a 5 year gap before that can happen

d) claim expenses to attend sporting events. If various sporting bodies want them to attend events, then either let the sporting body pay for it or they pay for it themselves

e) claim expenses to attend an event as a speaker. If the event wants them as a speaker, again, either let the event pay for it or they pay for it themselves

f) use anything apart from normal economy travel to attend duties in their line of work as a politician. Most businesses expect their employees to take the ‘best flight of the day’, which means they take the cheapest flight available, and no preference for a particular airline.

These are just a few of the perks that politicians abuse and I’m sure there are many more that could be added to the list, and it’s up to us to highlight them all.

This form of protest really needs to be an organised attack and maybe the Australian Unemployed Workers Union is just the right organisation to handle it. I would imagine that anyone on Newstart – which is very topical at the moment – should only be too happy to be a voice in this protest for change.

We do have a voice and we all should use it to bring about change that is fair and acceptable.

At the moment it is not fair. And it is certainly not acceptable.

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StephenJanuary 11, 2017 at 5:50 pm
With all the convenient public function that politicians seem to find that just happen to coincide with some party or private occasion, I really wonder why politicians from the other parts of the country need to attend these events outside their own electorate let alone state. And if their is some central pool of requests from organisations at party HQ that they fish to find one that will suit personal or party needs. It seems the public need arises first and an occasion is found to justify charging the trip to expenses.
Perhaps political expenses should be paid through Centerlink as should corporate welfare and handouts with 2 weekly reporting and activity statements so they can be checked.

ozibodyJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:04 pm
… Today I read a short excerpt attributed to Peter Slipper who (based upon his own experience), suggested that ‘questionable’ expense charges be handled along the same lines as he was in the cab-charge matter.

Worth the read – appeared to be a practical deterrent ! … and there is precedent !

RoswellJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Well said, Neil. It’s not as if we’re asking for much. Fairness isn’t a lot to ask for.

Kaye LeeJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:40 pm
It pisses me off that they blame ambigous rules. Have we elected people who are incapable of discretion? Do they think they are such celbrities that they should be paid appearance money? Do they think we are so stupid that we can’t tell their contrived “meetings” and announcements just so happen to coincide with their private functions? I know…let’s announce it on the Gold Coast…or at Uluru…let’s meet in Sydney on New Year’s Eve in a harbourside hotel.

And this utterly ridiculous family reunion rort must stop. They have an enormous amount of time with no set commitments. Fit the family in in the 45 weeks you aren’t required in Canberra.

“According to Department of Finance records, three members of Joe Hockey’s family, believed to be his wife and two of his children flew business class to Perth from Sydney for the purpose of family reunion with the Treasurer on April 17, 2013.

His three family members arrived in Perth two days before Mr Hockey did for the “family reunion’’ after they left him in Sydney.

His “reunion” cost us $14,566.”http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/treasurer-joe-hockeys-14k-family-travel-expenses-as-kids-fly-business-class-to-perth-in-school-holidays/news-story/d9c5bf516639f114afabdeae7ce05822

AndreasJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:41 pm
it should gfo further.
Limit parliamentary participation to TWO terms, then back to your earlier line of occupation. No pension scheme other than super. What,you’ve been nothing but a parliamentary staffer before? That’s just too bad.

LukeJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:46 pm
Agree hundred percent with Neil. greedy grubs.

KlausJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Best article I have read in a while. Can only agree.

Yes, time for action is long overdue. We need to vent our anger. Change.org should get this going on the basis of this article of truth alone.

Boy, I am angry.

They don’t even perform.

What is a Barnaby relocating an office, against all best recommendations regarding cost/benefit. Who does he think he is?

The arroganz of these people is astonishing. I suspect many have never worked in the real world.

At the same time pressing the last drop of lifeblood out of vulnerable people.

This is revolution stuff. Marie Antoinette (Julie Bishop/Sussan Ley/ assistant Treasurer (name escapes me)) etc…

Ahh, stop here…………………

Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 11, 2017 at 6:56 pm
Well said, Neil.

My form of protest today were three phone calls to the frontbenches of the duopoly.

My central message in all cases was twofold:
1) significantly increase Newstart to a dignified, livable level above ‘the poverty line’; and
2) significantly increase the allowable extra income earnt from temporary work from the current pitiful $48/fortnight to a substantial amount of several $hundreds/fortnight before Newstart starts being impacted and reduced.
If 2) was already enacted, there would be little or no such Centrelink debt contraversy right now.

First phone call was to Linda Burney’s Sydney office applauding her strong stance in support of Newstart and other welfare recipients, who have been severely maligned (forever but topically) over the last few weeks because of wrongly alleged debt.

My second and third phone calls were to Alan “Trudge” Tudge’s and anti-Christ Porter’s offices, accusing both Ministers of targeting the disadvantaged and impoverished vulnerable on Welfare.

Tudge’s staff member advised that Tudge is merely the ‘messenger’ of policy delivered by Porter. My response was that Tudge has to tell his mate, Porter to back off on the poor (or words to that effect).

Porter’s staff member was more counter-offensive and interrupted my spiel with demanding what solutions I have. What a turkey she was to give me the opportunity to tell her to tell anti-Christ about my Micro Finance Grants and Micro Credit Loans! This is my advocacy for the unemployed and under-employed to develop and sustain their own self-employment in their own micro-businesses based on their expertise, skills and energy.

The message of my story is that we are all impacted by the cruelty and offensiveness of this LNP Degenerate Government. They need severe pulling into line and they need to be constantly embarrassed in the eyes of the wider community so that the guileless don’t forget their reprehensible and regressive behaviour by the time of the 2019 election.

We cannot afford to let them undermine Australia’s welfare system any further and we must advocate to Labor and the Greens how they can provide lifesaving welfare measures once they form their ALLiance Government after the LNP Degenerates’ defeat.

Keitha GranvilleJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:17 pm
I think using the Australian Unemployed Workers Union to front a campaign will just give the LNP ammunition to blame Labor . We need a totally independent petition – Change.org maybe or one of the many online petition sites. We need to spread via any social media available. I have made a tiny start as you did Jennifer Meyer-Smith, but I sent emails to every Tasmanian Federal politician – members and Senators. Perhaps if we can all do that too so they are inundated with angry messages. Eventually they will HAVE to listen. I reckon if anyone stands for parliament with this as a platform would get 100% votes.
We are as mad as hell and we should not take it any more.

nurses1968January 11, 2017 at 7:19 pm
Jennifer Meyer-Smith
Didn’t you go along with the New Year resolution?
I thought we had a resolution not to mention the farcical formal ALLiance

helvityniJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Well received article by Neil Hogan, and many good posts by commenters; let’s make something positive to happen: It’s time…

Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:33 pm
nurses/cornlegend,

your resolution is all in your mind. Don’t worry, you can be a part of The ALLiance too. You don’t need to be left out.

It’s all up to you.

The AIM NetworkJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Jennifer, we can assure you that nurses1968 and Cornlegend are not the same person.

Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:46 pm
Ok, only if AIM says so.

Same message applies to both anyway.

LOVOJanuary 11, 2017 at 7:51 pm
But whom’s to say that nurses and corny aren’t already in some sort of an alliance…?

Ill fares the landJanuary 11, 2017 at 8:12 pm
Some simple suggestions.

For travel expenses while in Canberra, reimburse actual expenses, including rental. That doesn’t stop them having their spouse gear a property and then renting it to them, but at least the cost to the taxpayer is capped at the actual outlay and they don’t get to pocket thousands per year in unspent allowances – noting that under current tax rules, “reasonable travel allowances” (in other words, those paid to “public servants”) are assumed to be fully expended, so the allowances pay their spouse’s mortgage, but the allowances are wholly tax-free. This is a dirty little lurk that many public servants use to boost their salary.

For their pension, the rules have to be changed so that if they continue to work, they can’t draw their pension. Simple. Their pension gets paid on actual retirement – not merely retiring from politics. No double dipping – period.

Then the ultimate corruption – taking jobs with those for whom the politicians have done favours – as suggested, at least a 3-5 year mandatory period where such appointments can only be accepted if it can be shown the job had nothing to do with their political role – an independent tribunal reviews this and rules.

The rules for sporting events, NYE parties and polo matches – if the costs would not be tax deductible if claimed by a “normal taxpayer” (and can’t normally be because the costs relate to entertainment – regardless of whether there is a “business element” or “business discussions” occur), then the costs are paid out of their own pocket – or paid for by the beneficiary of their favours and with full disclosure.

If they travel and choose to use business class, they are reimbursed for the cost of an economy class ticket. Perhaps they can be granted a capped amount of travel – if they choose to use it for business class, they take less flights.

One of the gravest issues in the outrageous abuse of ENTITLEMENTS is that the politicians think they are so valuable and so underpaid that we should be happy to allow them some extra “treats”. But, taking Ley’s ridiculous claims for flying to an NYE party, this is all about her being courted by, or rewarding, a generous party donor. How does this relate to them doing their jobs which are, as far as I understand, governing for all Australians?.

Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 11, 2017 at 8:19 pm
Well said, Ill fares the land.

LOVO, no doubt they have some pact but it’s nothing like what I’m talking about, lovey.

nurses1968January 11, 2017 at 8:59 pm
The AIM Network
thank you ehoever you may be for hopefully finally putting Jennifers delusions to rest
LOVO,
It is no secret that I am employed by corny, actually, his wife of 40 plus years to act as a personal assistant in the running of her Trusts and to assist in the families numerous Trusts/businesses.
As he has a far greater knowledge of politics than me he was able to easily convince me that formal alliances stand a snowflakes hope in hell of getting established, and if you were trying to infer some other form of alliance I find that totally distasteful and a bit of a low shot from you.
As for Jennifers response, that is just another low snipe which I have grown accustomed to

Jennifer Meyer-SmithJanuary 11, 2017 at 9:04 pm
Sorry nurses,

I can’t take you seriously.

Julie PerrettJanuary 11, 2017 at 9:15 pm
How does this grab you ?? If i divide 7 500 000 by 400 i get 18, 750. So that 7 500 000 could pay 18, 500 single pensions for the week .. or Newstart for the F/N for 14, 203 people. correct me if i am wrong please .. If a single pension comes in at around $20 800 then for that $7 500 000, 360 pensioners could of been paid for the year or 546 Newstart allowances for the year. Three greedy humans allowance’s..

Michelle PetratJanuary 11, 2017 at 9:40 pm
Sounds like resistance is building. They have gone too far.

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