Retired MPs fight for their 'gravy plane'

[grandmoon]

Retired politicians are fighting to keep their gravy plane airborne, arguing axing their lifetime gold travel pass is unconstitutional.

The Association of Former Members of the Parliament of Australia claims it is “unconscionable” and “symbolic tokenism” for the Abbott Government to strip them of their taxpayer-funded travel perks as part of its Budget savings drive.

“Parliamentarians’ entitlements should not be the subject of political whim and expediency,” the association said in submission to a Senate inquiry examining the proposed changes.

The former MPs and senators are threatening to launch a High Court challenge against the Government’s plan to retrospectively scrap the gold pass, arguing it is unconstitutional because it amounts to an acquisition of property without compensation on just terms.

They claimed the estimated $1 million a year in savings from dumping the scheme would be outweighed by compensation that would have to be paid to passholders if the Government was found liable.

[grandmoon]

The association also said the gold pass was a benefit for long serving parliamentarians in lieu of successive governments “denying politically sensitive salary increases”.

Passholders and their spouses are currently entitled to 10 free return domestic flights a year, with the only restriction being the travel cannot be for commercial gain. Travel used to be unlimited but it was restricted to 25 return flights by the Howard Government and 10 under Julia Gillard.

To qualify for the lifetime gold pass, a backbencher needs to serve seven terms or 20 years in Parliament, with the eligibility period reduced for prime ministers and ministers.

MPs and senators elected since 2012 cannot get the pass.

While some former MPs and senators have used their travel entitlement for philanthropic work, others such as millionaire former WA Liberal minister Geoff Prosser have been heavily criticised for charging taxpayers to fly to coastal holiday homes.

Joe Hockey announced on Budget night the pass would be scrapped altogether as former parliamentarians’ sacrifice for repairing the bottom line.

[lind9650]

A man works for a big company from apprentice time to retirement. He got promoted a couple of times and earned a good salary. All the years at his job, the company provided free lunch for the workers and an extra weeks wages for Xmas bonus. He also received a company car and free petrol while working there

.

Retirement day comes and all those perks disappear. No more a staff member, no more benefits. He has to budget on his Superannuation pension.

Why should Ex-politicians be treated any different? They get a lot more in pension than the average working man will ever get. More than $10,000.00 a month, and still want all the perks as if they were still working for the Government.

Question is - do they deserve it?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/full-list-of-federal-mps-entitlements-20090521-bh0v.html

 Erica

[wilk1149]

I have something that flies for these lifetime bludgers of the public purse. They are small and shiny. Travel at around 1800fps. I'll even pay the two dollar a piece price out of my own pocket

[2106greencat]

My kudo was a vote for

NO

[kilroy_is_here]

If it was part of their entitlements when they were employed as polititions then they should keep them

[debra9275]

I thnk that if the community is expected to do some " heavy lifting" so should politicians

[lind9650]

And ex-politicians that helped get us where we are today.

Each of them took a part in it just to feather their own nest.

Erica

[kilroy_is_here]

Are you willing to give up pensioner discounts on drs scripts etc these cost the community heaps

[the_great_she_elephant]

---

@kilroy_is_here wrote:
Are you willing to give up pensioner discounts on drs scripts etc these cost the community heaps

---

If my pension was as high as a retired MP's I wouldn't have a choice - I'd be made to give them up.