Thieving from the tax payer

[donnashuggy]

Who would do such a thing?

[lakeland27 · Accepted solution]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/brandis-joyce-attended-wedding-on-taxpayers...

[i-need-a-martini]

Do you mean risk going to Michael Smiths wedding when you are seeking a public office?

Or do you mean openly showing your support for a controversial, lying scumbag?

Or do you mean using taxpayers money to attend a private wedding?

Oh I suppose it doesn't matter. I mean if your leader can use taxpayers money to pay for his personal ironman and training events, then of course it must be OK to use taxpayers money for whatever you want.

[lakeland27]

Two of Tony Abbott's most high-profile ministers claimed thousands of dollars in taxpayer entitlements for attending the wedding of close friend and Sydney shock jock Michael Smith.

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis and Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce billed taxpayers nearly $3000 for flights, hire cars and incidental expenses incurred on the trip, according to travel expenses lodged with the Department of Finance.

It was a little less than two years ago and Smith had just left 2UE radio after a falling out over his attempt to raise allegations about former prime minister Julia Gillard's past relationship with a union official and misappropriation of funds.

National Party senator Barnaby Joyce. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

The shock jock did not have a best man. But Senator Brandis, then one of the Abbott opposition's lead attack dogs, and Mr Joyce spoke at the event.

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Mr Joyce read a poem and Senator Brandis made a bridal speech before he later dominated the dance floor.

The Attorney-General claimed $1700, including more than $1000 on return flights, $143 on a hire car and the overnight ''official business'' allowance designed to cover accommodation and incidentals.

He told Fairfax Media on Saturday that he regarded the wedding as a chance to ''foster collaboration'' over Smith's work on covering Ms Gillard and the Craig Thomson scandal and was therefore ''primarily a professional rather than a social engagement''.

''These were both matters of significant national interest on which I spoke frequently in Parliament and the media,'' he said in a written statement.

The federal Department of Finance's guidelines state MPs are allowed to claim travel and accommodation expenses for official business, including ''meetings of a government advisory committee or taskforce'' or ''functions representing a minister o

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/brandis-joyce-attended-wedding-on-taxpayers-ta...

[just_me_karen · Accepted solution]

Donna might mean how tony spent tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on photo opportunities whilst pretending to volunteer in aboriginal communities?

[lakeland27]

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@just_me_karen wrote:
Donna might mean how tony spent tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on photo opportunities whilst pretending to volunteer in aboriginal communities?

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 interesting how that abuse of the public purse is not widely reported.  abbott is the epitome of a rent seeker.

[*ibis]

interesting how that abuse of the public purse is not widely reported.

then how did you find out about this smarty pants?

[lakeland27]

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@*ibis wrote:

interesting how that abuse of the public purse is not widely reported.

then how did you find out about this smarty pants?

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 by following a narrow path.

[*crikey*mate*]

your neural pathways?

[just_me_karen · Accepted solution]

Yay I was right.

I reckon Donna might also be talking about ashby gate and the zillions of dollars spent on getting that dodgy brough into his seat.

How much does a fraudulent medical certificate cost these days?