http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html en-gb 30 Thu 03 Dec 2009 14:59:54 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=17#comment8 Where was Australia's Fourth Estate when it's politicians were voting themselves these perks? The failure of traditional media to carry out their role in a free society as watchdog against the excesses of government may be one of the main reasons fewer and fewer people around the world see newspapers and broadcast news as relevant anymore. Thu 09 Jul 2009 19:51:12 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=15#comment7 The fact that the benefits are only a small proportion of the overall taxes gathered doesnt mean this should be glossed over. Firstly, it shows an attitude of entitlement which worrying to see but very common in politicians (and not just australian ones) and secondly, 8.3 million is a lot of money which could have been spent on something which actually benefits the county. Fri 03 Jul 2009 05:50:48 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=13#comment6 It is always great to point out that something is costing the tax payer x-million dollars, but you have to see this in perspective. 'The tax payer' is actually millions of tax payers, and they have provided the government with about $2.4 trillion in tax revenues over the past 8 years. The $8.3 million spent on flights for ex-MP's corresponds to around 0.0003 % of that, or an average of 6 cents per tax payer. Fri 03 Jul 2009 03:01:51 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=11#comment5 Is this just a backdoor way to subsidize Qantas?And by the way, how many flights is "over 701"?? Fri 03 Jul 2009 02:06:10 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=8#comment4 In terms of global political situations, Australia is mildly over-governed, having local council, state and federal elected officials for a gross population of only 20(ish) million, but politicians' remuneration is as Nick says - not huge.Voters get snaky though when politicians' ongoing perks remain with them long after they have left office (Bill O'Chee, anyone?), or especially when travel allowances are spent on "discovery" tours of Venice and the Greek Islands or French Riviera during Australia's winter months (and dont mention 'emergency expenses' member credit card payments on sunglasses) - whether still in office or not.But 8.3 million in 8 yrs since 2001 against all ex-members entitled to this travel isn't a lot. Fri 03 Jul 2009 00:03:48 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=6#comment3 As usual, when people are able to vote themselve priveledges they will. Just about the only think that both sides of politics can agree on is that politicians deserve a raise. In my opinion, politicians salaries should be determined by the average Australian wage, with a limited set of priveledges available to WORKING politicians. Ex premiers of NSW get chaffeurs, office space and a fancy pension even though it turns out they left the state in debt. Clearly I'm in the wrong profession. Thu 02 Jul 2009 23:54:41 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=4#comment2 Oh, Yes Indeed--I would Visit 'HObart' fortNIGHTLY! Thu 02 Jul 2009 18:49:12 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=2#comment1 701 flights? There are pilots who have probably made fewer flights than that... Thu 02 Jul 2009 18:33:16 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/07/pollies_get_their_gravy_in_the.html?page=0#comment0 Yes, one can't help thinking that there should be a limit on how long retired politicans remain eligible for this benefit. Thu 02 Jul 2009 13:17:16 GMT+1