[Jan Fisher]

The Guardian has revealed that MPs and senators are claiming thousands of taxpayer dollars on travel to sporting events they’ve been invited to.

Unfortunately, it’s all perfectly legal, but should it be?

The Guardian says all parties are involved and all have defended their actions, claiming it helps them in their role as public officials.

Weird logic, like your role as a public official requires you to be at the races or tennis? Pretty sure they are leisure options in most people’s lives.

Western Australian Greens senator Dorinda Cox spent more than $6000 for a two-day trip to Melbourne and Canberra in October 2022, where she attended an AFL semi-final game between Collingwood and Fremantle.

A spokesperson for Cox explained the senator had been invited by the AFL’s Diversity and Inclusion team to discuss racism in sports in relation to events at Collingwood at the time.

Pretty sure that’s a Zoom meeting in any other business.

Independent senator David Pocock says it needs to stop.

“Public funding shouldn’t be used for attending a footy match, the cricket or a horse race. Most people would think you earn enough, put your hand in your own pocket and pay for that,” Pocock said.

For the record, the base pay of any parliamentarian is $225,742.

It’s all legal, but should it be? What do you think?

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I agree completely with Jan Fisher and David Pocock. Abuses of travel entitlements have been going on for years and nothing is done about it by the Government of the day. All major parties are in on the act.

Of course this Greens Senator should pay for her own ticket and so should all politicians attending such events, with no connection to their very well-paid parliamentary roles. Her justification for the taxpayer footing the tab is pathetic.

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