Former Gold Coast MPs clock up thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel while they still can

FORMER Gold Coast MPs are still claiming thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel entitlements without having to publicly declare when and where they went.

FORMER Gold Coast MPs are still claiming thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel entitlements without having to publicly declare when and where they went.

Two Coast-based former State members racked up nearly $10,000 in air and or rail travel costs last financial year, according to the Annual Report of Travel Benefits Afforded Former members of the Legislative Assembly.

Judy Spence clocked up nearly $10,000 worth of travel expenses. Photo by Richard Gosling

The report, tabled in State Parliament on the eve of last week’s long weekend, shows Gold Coast-based former Brisbane MPand one-time Police and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence clocked up one of the highest bills of former State members last financial year with $9682.46 worth of taxpayer-funded travel expenses.

Margaret Keech, a former member for Albert, which was absorbed into the electorates of Logan and Coomera following a redistribution last year, wasn’t far behind — the one-time Fair Trading Minister spent $8,063.44 on taxpayer-funded travel.

Former State MP Margaret Keech also cost us just over $8000.

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The biggest-spender of the ex MPs last financial year was one-time independent turned National Party member for the Darling Downs Ray Hopper with $11,974.93 worth of taxpayer-funded travel expenses.

The annual report of travel benefits does not record where the ex-pollies’ trips were taken, nor when.

That will all change on December 31, when all former MPs’ travel entitlements will be abolished following a 2014 decision by the Queensland independent Remuneration Tribunal (QIRT) that the scheme is too costly and the public does not support it.

Alex Douglas didn’t cost us a cent.

Former National Party member for Burleigh Judy Gamin ($1884.46) was among the local MPs who claimed expenses under the scheme last financial year while the Labor pollie who succeeded her, Christine Smith, claimed $4291.40.

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One-time premier and member for Surfers Paradise Bob Borbidge claimed $1743.35 while Ray Connor, who once held the seat of Nerang for the Liberal party, spent $4017.56 on travel on the public purse.

Bob Quinn, a one-time Liberal Party leader and member for the now abolished seat of Merrimac and later, Robina, and former member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas didn’t cost us a cent.

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Nor did former member for Bonney Allan Grice, whose successor in that seat, Peta-Kay Croft, claimed $497.52.

Dianne Reilly, who held the seat of Mudgeeraba for Labor from 2001-2009 claimed $1408.88.

Former Southport MPs Mick Veivers($1912.42) and Peter Lawlor($923.03) also made travel claims last financial year.

Former premiers Mike Ahern, Peter Beattie, Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman and former independent MPs Peter Wellington and Liz Cunningham were among those former MPs who didn’t cost us a cent in travel expenses last financial year while former deputy premier and head of Expo ‘88 Sir Llew Edwards billed taxpayers for $1118.16.