[Greens-Media] PARNELL: Golden Handshake for Dud MPs

[Parnell]

Media Release
Tuesday 21st September 2010


Golden Handshake for Dud MPs


Hidden in the MP Super Increase Bill that was rammed through Parliament last week under the cover of the Budget is a plan to give dud MPs a golden handshake of over $30,000 when they retire, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

The Bill, the Statutes Amendment (Member's Benefit) Bill 2010 was passed in less than 24 hours last Thursday, despite the attempt by the Greens, Dignity for Disability and Independents to stop the debate to allow greater scrutiny.

One of the clauses allows for a Member to be paid 12 weeks of basic salary ($31,070) if they are forced to 'retire involuntarily'.  This includes MPs who fail to be pre-selected to be a candidate by their political party, or MPs who have been expelled by their party.

"This is just outrageous. An MP can fail to be preselected 12 months out from a State election and then when their term expires on Election Day, they get a golden handshake of another $31,070 - despite having had a year to find alternative employment," said Mr Parnell.

"Equally, an MP who is so on the nose that they get kicked out of their party -and as a result 'fail to be a candidate' at the next election - will also get a $31,070 payout after Election Day.

"I am disgusted this Bill has passed with so little scrutiny - and dud MPs get looked after while public service conditions are slashed.

"This $30,000 golden handshake is exactly the reason the Greens wanted to stop this Bill going through last week so that we could do our job as Parliamentarians and properly scrutinise the spending of taxpayers' money.

"For the Parliament to force through these perks on the same day as conditions for public servants were slashed is shameful," he said.



For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893





The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful