Make sure you are sitting down before you read this: Under the law, Peter Slipper may well be entitled to the presumption of innocence. But it's a miracle he got the Speaker's job, given the rows over his expenses. But of course we all know why he got the job in the first place.
Whether he's rorted the system or not, Slippery Pete sure knows how to spend our money, racking up more than $1.8 million since 2007 in travel and office expenses, which we taxpayers have been asked to reimburse.
In 2009 and again in 2010, Slipper claimed more than $700,000 in expenses a year, at the rate of almost $2,000 a day. Yes, that's $2,000 a day!
This included regular $300 taxi trips from Brisbane Airport to his home on the Sunshine Coast; a $15,800 study trip to Argentina; and annual vehicle expenses of more than $40,000.
In just two months in 2011, Slipper racked up $4595.40 in overseas calls from his mobile phone. Hasn't the man ever heard of Skype?
Locals in his constituency of Fisher became so outraged by his spending sprees that almost 3000 of them signed a petition last year demanding a full audit of his expenses over the last 10 years.
The Finance Department in Canberra then audited his 2009 claims but did not publish its findings. However, it did call in the Australian Federal Police who began investigating allegations of misuse of his fuel card, possibly by staff, before Slipper was given the Speaker's job.
So just what has he been getting in his current position? As Speaker of the House, Peter Slipper is paid a salary of more than $275,000 a year. That's nearly twice what an ordinary MP receives. He also gets FREE business-class air travel anywhere in Australia and overseas; provided he is on parliamentary, electorate or official business. He is paid $253 a night for staying in Canberra, and up to $371 a night for staying in other Australian cities.
He also gets free car travel anywhere in Australia. This includes a COMCAR plus driver in Canberra, taxis, self-drive hire cars, and a private car for personal and family use (for which he has to contribute $711 a year), plus a fuel card to pay for petrol.
And what will he get if he goes? If Peter Slipper resigns as an MP or is voted out at the next election he will get almost $114,000 a year (inflation-proofed) for the rest of his life. That includes the extra $3800 in pension he has racked up for his five months in the Speaker's job. This is obscene.
If this makes you as mad as it made me, send it to every taxpayer you know who will be voting at the next election.
Greed and corruption are rampant in the land and we have to do something to stop it. Remember this example of politicians at the next election!
And remember that the Labor Party employed nineteen lawyers who worked on the Government’s defence of the Slipper / Ashby case at a cost of more than $700,000. Also, a portrait of Peter Slipper has been commissioned for $30,000. Where will they hang it; in the men's lavatory? All of which pales into insignificance, of course, when compared to the more than $1.8 million spent so far - and counting! - by Fair Work Australia on external legal and accounting advice for its investigation into the rorting of HSU funds.
P.S. ... and if you really want to get put off your food and feel like emigrating, follow The Pickering Post.
