POLITICIANS' TRAVEL 26 May 04

[Clark, Allen (M. Organ, MP)]

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WHAT ABOUT FORMER POLITICIANS' GOLD PASS TRAVEL?

While the tightening of rules regarding Federal politicians' overseas
travel is welcome the Prime Minister has fumbled the ball on the
generous travel entitlements of former politicians Cunningham MP Michael
Organ said today.

"The government would do well to reconsider its position on my Private
Member's Bill to abolish Gold Pass travel, which I introduced last
year", Mr. Organ said.

"It is little short of obscene that former politicians and their spouses
can still travel at public expense, flying first or business class from
airports they've been taken to in limousines when the government is
putting the squeeze on welfare recipients, students and the sick."

"Despite denying that his government isn't swayed by opinion polls, Mr.
Howard has reacted quickly to the burgeoning row surrounding an overseas
trip by one of his own backbenchers by requiring members and Senators to
formally declare that they live with a person proposed to accompany them
on publicly-funded study trips."

"That move is welcome, as is the requirement for MPs to submit a formal
report on their trips, but the running sore of retired politicians'
travel is still with us", Mr. Organ said.

More from:
Michael Organ MP 02 6277 4366, 0439 442 550
Allen Clark (Media Adviser) 0439 464 439
www.michaelorgan.org.au



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