Statements
A statement on the PM’s response to travel rorts …
It is good that the Prime Minster has finally fronted the media, and that the Government might finally be doing something substantial about parliamentary rorting.
But it’s a terrible shame it took this long, and what the Prime Minister had to say today will remain nothing more than just soothing words until we see the promised reforms effectively implemented. Let’s not forget that Senator Mathias Cormann promised substantial reforms almost a year ago, most of which never eventuated.
Two concerns come straight to mind however. Firstly that there seems to be no interest in a retrospective audit of parliamentarians’ travel claims, a consequence being that most of the blatant wrongdoing in recent years will go unaddressed. And secondly, whether or not the improved disclosure of parliamentary travel will include the listing of all substantive activities – private as well as official – during all trips.
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison