Former Labor leader to earn $55,000 before he quits parliament
Disgraced former Labor leader Luke Foley will still earn a decent salary by hanging on to his Western Sydney seat until the March election as his replacement says his brain is “mush” and he needs “support”.
Disgraced former Labor leader Luke Foley will earn about $55,022 by hanging on to his western Sydney seat until the March election as his replacement says his brain is “mush” and he needs “support”.
Mr Foley’s annual salary drops from $302,071 — which he was entitled to as Opposition leader — to $165,066 as the total salary for a private member of parliament.
As Opposition Leader he was also entitled to $42,917 in expenses, $94,088 in office salary and could claim up to $140,165 in electoral allowance.
Mr Foley loses his expenses allowance and salary of office in his new role but maintains the electorate allowance which starts at $49,885.
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The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday that Mr Foley was not expected to return to parliament with staff having packed up his office despite six days of parliament remaining.
New labor leader Michael Daley confirmed his predecessor would not return for the final fortnight of parliament.
“He’s on leave and I support him, he did the wrong thing but his head will be mush as well. We have to look after his welfare as well,” Mr Daley said.
Mr Foley last week resigned as leader and said he wouldn’t contest the seat at the election after an ABC journalist issued a statement alleging he groped her at a 2016 Christmas party.
He denied this and flagged possible legal action for defamation.
It comes as Mr Daley wrote to Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday outlining how he thought standards in parliament could be improved in the wake of the “less-than-edifying spectacle” when the allegations against Mr Foley were aired.
Corrective Service Minister David Elliott used parliamentary privilege on October 18 to accuse Mr Foley of drunkenly harassing an ABC journalist.
In the letter, Mr Daley said “question time is a farce” with parliament rules being ignored.
“The parliament no longer resembles the institution it was designed to be and the institution voters expect,” he wrote.
Mr Daley was embroiled in his own scandal in parliament in 2012 when he was accused of being drunk in the chamber.
Since that night Mr Daley vowed to stay sober when parliament was sitting.
In the letter Mr Daley also called for a working committee to set new standards and an “independent commissioner” to enforce the rules.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet dismissed the letter as a stunt.
“This is a stunt that has backfired, Michael Daley has worn a groove in the carpet heading out the door after being booted out by the Speaker for his behaviour,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The only standards Michael Daley needs to lift are his own, and that of the Labor Party.”
“It’s the height of hypocrisy for Michael Daley to talk about creating a kinder gentler parliament when he has spent more time outside the chamber on detention than Bart Simpson.”
Mr Perrottet pointed out that Mr Daley is also a member of the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders and Procedures Committee which already has the power to “inquire into, and report on any matter relating to the standing orders or the procedures of the House and its committees.”
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