What the Actual!? Jared Cassidy’s moral stand looks wobbly

Brisbane City Council’s Labor opposition leader has gotten on his high horse over lavish allowances to councillors — but there’s a glaring problem with his stance.

LEAPING on to a high horse when you’re in politics has one slight problem – it’s harder than it looks to pilot the steed of purity past the winning post.

It’s no secret that The Sunday Mail’s revelations a few weeks back about Brisbane City Council perks were a bit like throwing a big, angry moggy among those precious pigeons down at City Hall.

Brisbane City Council expense of office allowances to be reviewed

Brisbane City Council office holders paid hefty extra allowance

Plenty of political feathers, particularly ones of the blue variety, were ruffled by our discovery both sides of politics had been quietly pecking on a deliciously ripe 20 per cent superannuation scheme, and that juicy expense-of-office allowances were being paid directly to private bank accounts.

Jared Cassidy

Newish Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner (you might have seen his image on a flyer or two in your mailbox) had better weeks in the job.

When the proverbial hit the fan Labor’s rookie opposition leader Jared Cassidy was quick to throw a saddle on a high horse and get his feet into the stirrups as the LNP flapped about before finally realising the issue was stinking up the coop and needed to be sorted out.

From the dizzying heights of his haughty vantage point, jockey Jared told a reporter he was “appalled” when he found out about the expense-of-office payment going into his account, and he had put the money aside and had told council to stop paying him.

Cassidy – who is also not opposed to putting his mug on a bit of ratepayer-funded literature – doubled down on telly, saying: “It’s sitting in my account now and I’m happy to give it back if they want it.”

The only drama is that despite all the big talk, he hasn’t actually bothered to pick up the phone to anyone at council to stop the payments, or arranged any repayment.

Voters might decide he’s actually just been talking a load of horse manure.