Politicians’ flights of fancy still don’t stack up

The Abbott and then Turnbull governments have both had a red-faced shot at clamping down on travel rorts.

Sussan Ley will take another taxpayer funded trip, this time to Russia. Picture: AAP

THE Abbott and then Turnbull governments have both had a red-faced shot at clamping down on travel rorts.

But, while costs have fallen in a range of categories and so-called “study tours” have been drastically cut, it seems our politicians continue to take the taxpayer for a ride, if they can get away with it.

Despite the travel expenses saga costing Sussan Ley her job as then health minister just six months ago, she is set to join a group tour to Russia next month.

Ms Ley resigned her Cabinet post in a storm over taxpayer-funded flights to the Gold Coast, including a government business trip in which she privately bought a $795,000 Main Beach apartment, on “impulse”.

A Finance Department review later found only a minor breach in the use of a Commcar and Ms Ley said she paid back $5000 in expenses because she accepted her travel claims, although within the rules, had not met community standards.

According to the Finance Department, in the six months from January to June 2016, Ms Ley claimed $77,869.28 in overseas travel allowances for ministerial visits and a further $51,183.68 in scheduled domestic fares. That included $42,000 in fares for a six-day trip to lead a MedTech project at the Australia-US Business Week and conduct a series of bilateral meetings.

Wide-ranging travel is expected of a minister.

But this is more than just having a go at the NSW member for Farrer, who was nominated by colleagues to join the government delegation to St Petersburg for an international gathering of parliamentarians. And it is more than the uncomfortable coincidence that it is the same trip Bronwyn Bishop — whose infamous Geelong helicopter ride cost her the position as Speaker — spent more than $60,000 on in 2014.

Bronwyn Bishop, previously embroiled in her own expenses scandal, also took the same trip as Ms Ley to St Petersburg.

The issue is, and has always been, about simple legitimacy; the need for such trips — the genuine ability for any taxpayer-funded travel to be of proven benefit to those taxpayers and to Australia.

Ordinary Australians — who are struggling to pay the mortgage and keep the gas and lights on — will ask two simple questions:

1. What is the purpose of, and the specific benefit to be derived from, the St Petersburg trip?

2. How will that purpose or benefit differ from the previous trips, such as that taken by Ms Bishop and her party?

Tip: Don’t expect:

1. An answer, or;

2. One that makes sense.

It is reasonable that federal representatives travel within and outside Australia to promote national interests and to gain specific knowledge or engage in concrete partnerships. But, at a time when federal government gross debt passes the $500 billion mark and ratings agency Standard & Poor’s retains its “negative” outlook on Australia (although maintaining a triple A credit rating), “fact-finding” or “goodwill” junkets should be scrapped. And not just for Ms Ley. The entire Russian trip should be iced unless a solid business or political case is mounted.

The 226 members of parliament and senators cost taxpayers some $500 million in income and expenses each year. While some of them may yet lose their jobs in the current crisis for failing to realise or relinquish a second citizenship, the last thing pollies should be doing is booking a seat at the pointy end of a plane headed to some exotic but irrelevant destination.

SWAN DELAYS, COST HIKE

THE Swan St Bridge upgrade will blow out in cost and completion time with continued traffic mayhem, possibly into January and the Australian Open.

A failure to pick up on changes to original construction plans drafted some 70 years ago has meant design alterations will increase not only the cost of the project — likely by some millions — but also the forecast construction time frame.

The Swan St Bridge upgrade will likely keep causing major havoc. Picture: George Salpigtidis

An extra six months will be needed to complete the $30 million project. As well as structural changes, gas lines were also discovered and a redesign “on the run” will mean four lanes may be open in October.

But Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said “we are hoping” to have the extra fifth lane operational by the Australian Open in January.

While Mr Donnellan admitted the embarrassment and the gridlock being caused, the project does raise serious questions about the Andrews Government’s planning and management of major infrastructure.

If it can’t get the Swan St upgrade right, which is in relative terms a small but vital project, how much confidence can Victorians have in it completing the massive $11 billion Melbourne Metro project on time and on budget?

The business and efficiency case of the West Gate Tunnel project is now being heavily questioned. And the government’s 50 level crossing removals, which have already blown out by $1 billion, must also be tightly managed to ensure delivery and better cost containment. Traffic congestion is a hot-button issue for voters who have already seen East West wastefully scuttled and who won’t tolerate late delivery on other projects and huge cost overruns.