Economy
Will Tony follow Michael’s fine example?
Will Prime Minister Tony Abbott follow the fine example of Tassie’s Michael Ferguson ( Red-faced Ferguson pays back $776 luxury taxi fare AND More luxury taxi revelations of Ministers’ abusing the system ) and repay the cost …
Age: Tony Abbott’s visit to cancer hospital used to ‘justify’ fund-raising visit
Prime Minister Tony Abbott told government MPs he had to schedule an early morning visit to a cancer research centre in Melbourne on Tuesday so that he could justify billing taxpayers to be in the city for a “private function” the night before.
Mr Abbott made the admission at the regular meeting of Liberal and Nationals MPs after being taken to task by one his own senators for turning up an hour late.
The issue came to a head when LNP senator Ian Macdonald, who has been a frequent critic of his own side since he was demoted from the frontbench after the election, told Mr Abbott his priority should have been the regular party room meeting, which is held every Tuesday morning when Parliament is sitting.
But Senator Macdonald was swiftly rebuked by colleagues including backbencher Ewen Jones, who said Senator Macdonald’s constant criticism of his own team had “overstepped the mark”.
“I have the highest regard for Ian as a man but the direction he has taken is unfortunate,” Mr Jones said.
Several government sources told Fairfax Media they were stunned to hear the Prime Minister respond to Senator Macdonald’s complaint by saying he had to schedule an official function on Tuesday morning so he could justify being in Melbourne for a fund-raiser the night before under entitlements.