Greens say Obeid should pay taxpayers $23,624.50

[Cate Faehrmann]

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MEDIA RELEASE
31 May 2004


Greens say Obeid should pay taxpayers $23,624.50

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will ask the Treasurer Michael Egan to force
missing-in-action Upper House Labor MP Eddie Obeid to pay $23,624.50
into the public purse, which is the equivalent of two months wages plus
additional allowances.

Mr Obeid is reported in the media as skipping Parliament for two months
to campaign for a candidate in local elections in the Lebanese village
of Matrit.

"Mr Obeid is getting $8,521 per month in wages from the taxpayer.  On
top of this he's getting an electoral allowance of $3,291.25 per month,"
said Ms Rhiannon.

"If the reports from various media outlets are true, then Mr Obeid's
overseas jaunt in Lebanon has nothing to do with compassionate leave, or
with undertaking work or 'study' for the benefit of the people of NSW.

"Mr Obeid has robbed the taxpayer, pure and simple and must cough up.

"It's a disgrace that Premier Carr has defended Mr Obeid's actions,
calling him a 'hard-working MP'.  Mr Obeid hasn't spoken in Parliament
for eighteen months and we all know that the only hard work Mr Obeid
does is for himself and the Labor Party machine. 

"MPs must be held accountable to the public.  This is a blatant breach
of public confidence and Mr Obeid must repay the public purse.

"I'll be asking Mr Egan in Parliament tomorrow whether the Labor Party
will ensure Mr Obeid pays back taxpayers' money for MP's duties he
clearly hasn't performed.  I'll also be asking Mr Egan whether the State
Government will request Mr Obeid resign," said Ms Rhiannon.



More information :  Cate Faehrmann	9230 3551	0412 207 043




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