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Election 2019: Centre Alliance Senate candidate Skye Kakoschke-Moore wants pollies to fly cattle class

An SA Senate candidate says politicians should not travel at the pointy end of planes on the taxpayers’ dime. WHAT DO YOU THINK - TAKE OUR POLL

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Politicians would no longer get taxpayer funded business class plane seats for short trips under a plan by Centre Alliance hopeful Skye Kakoschke-Moore.

The Senate candidate, who is hoping to bolster her party’s crossbench muscle in the Senate on May 18, has vowed to introduce legislation to stop politicians using the pointy end of the plane for trips that take less than two hours.

The move would mean politicians flying to Canberra from Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney each week would have to fly cattle class.

Ms Kakoschke-Moore will on Sunday launch what she is describing as her #BusinessClassBoycott campaign, calling on all candidates in the upcoming federal election to join her, if elected, in committing to only booking economy class airfares with taxpayer funds for short-haul domestic flights.

“In 2018 nearly $12 million was spent on domestic airfares by federal politicians,” Ms Kakoschke-Moore said.

“No matter who forms government after the federal election, parliament will no doubt be pressured to cut government spending in order to boost the country’s bottom line.

“Before essential community services are asked to make do with less, politicians should first look inwardly to see where they can reduce their own spending.”

Analysis of MP expenses data shows South Australian MPs spent about $1.3 million on domestic flights in 2018.

Centre Alliance senate hopeful Skye Kakoschke-Moore
Centre Alliance senate hopeful Skye Kakoschke-Moore

Government ministers, like Christopher Pyne and Simon Birmingham, and senior Labor opposition spokespeople, like Penny Wong and Mark Butler, all had domestic travel bills last year exceeding $90,000 due to their increased travel requirements.

However, the analysis shows most MPs are racking up domestic travel bills worth tens of thousands a year.

Centre Alliance Senators Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick, and Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie have all spent less than $20,000 on flights.

Campaign headquarters for Labor and the Liberals did not respond to questions from the Sunday Mail.

Ms Kakoschke-Moore said her proposed business class booking ban would not apply to overseas travel on official parliamentary business.

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“I recognise that overseas travel can involve substantial distances, with multiple meetings arranged in often short periods of time in order to maximise the time away. In such instances, it’s reasonable to consider business class travel is justifiable,” she said.

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“That said, my proposed Bill will have a provision where politicians are able to pay the difference between business and economy fares for domestic flights if they so choose.

“It’s time for all politicians to stop treating taxpayer funded travel like their own Plane of Thrones.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/centre-alliance-senate-candidate-skye-kakoschkemoore-calls-for-pollies-to-fly-cattle-class/news-story/5e6cf16b43ebea464e68aa4ee46ae3ca