Boost to federal MPs' travel pay
The Age
Wednesday August 19, 2009
FEDERAL MPs have been awarded a 7 per cent increase in travel allowances to attend Parliament in Canberra €“ four times the rate of inflation.The boost will deliver an extra $1000 a year to politicians when they stay in the national capital and comes amid growing calls for an overhaul of the labyrinth of antiquated rules covering MPs' pay and entitlements.When in Sydney, visiting MPs have won a 10 per cent leap in the nightly allowance, while in Melbourne the rise is 3.8 per cent.The annual rate of inflation stands at 1.5 per cent.Last year, federal MPs claimed more than $5 million in travel allowance for official business. A standard rate is set for every city and major towns.The new rates, which will apply from August 30 and are set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal for evenings spent away from home, come after MPs were awarded a $4700-a-year increase in electorate allowance earlier this year.Allowances have been rising despite the imposed pay freeze for MPs over the past two years.The Greens leader, Bob Brown, said there was no justification for the travel allowance increase."Electorate allowance going up and now travel allowance. It's hard to escape the appearance of a back door pay increase," he told The Age."My biggest objection to it is the failure of the Remuneration Tribunal to give reasons to Members of Parliament for this increase. There is zero explanation and . . . that's not good enough."In Canberra, the allowance rises by $15 to $230 a night. The $1000-a-year increase for MPs to meet their accommodation costs in the capital is based on this year's parliamentary schedule of 68 sitting days. MPs may also be required to be in Canberra on other days for official business.In Sydney the rate jumps by $32 to $356 and in Melbourne a $12 rise takes the allowance to $328 a night.The largest capital city increase is 12.5 per cent for Adelaide with Perth up 11 per cent but just a 3.4 per cent increase for Brisbane.The Geelong increase of 7 per cent is almost double Melbourne's rise, while Mt Isa has leapt by 21 per cent and Broome by almost 14 per cent.Ministers and official office holders receive higher nightly travel rates in cities other than Canberra.Many experts believe MPs are under-paid, while some politicians have privately admitted the various allowances are considered as compensation because it is never politically popular to give MPs a proper pay rise.The Remuneration Tribunal last year said a Cabinet minister was earning $100,000 less than a senior public servant under their command.WHAT MPs GET–Canberra up $15 to $230–Sydney up $32 to $356–Melbourne up $12 to $328–Geelong up $17 to $252–Mount Isa up $50 to $289–Brisbane up $12 to $364–Perth up $34 to $342–Adelaide up $35 to $314–Darwin up $7 to $301
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