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You’d think the Greens’ favoured transport would be public transport, not private cars and jets

Hard left crusader Adam Bandt rails against capitalism but he has suddenly found a taste for the finer things in life, including private jet charters.

'Quite a bill': Greens Leader spent nearly $1 million during election year

Never stand between a socialist and a big fat pile of someone else’s money.

And, when that pile of money is taxpayer funds then you can be sure that the most radical, hard left crusader will suddenly find a taste for the finer things in life.

Greens leader Adam Bandt might rail against capitalism but he sure loves private jets and luxury cars, as long as someone else is picking up the bill.

The global warming crusader who wants to get rid of fossil fuels including a ban on all new coal, oil and gas projects managed to rack up an annual expense bill for 2022 of more than $960,000.

Adam Bandt has a taste for the finer things in life.
Adam Bandt has a taste for the finer things in life.

As reported in the Herald Sun on Tuesday, that extravagant amount does not include Bandt’s $300,000-plus salary or the wages of his personal staff.

Bandt’s annual expenses bill of almost $1m included government COMCAR trips, taxis, a government provided private vehicle, domestic flights and even a couple of private jet charters.

You’d think the main transport favoured by a party that pushes the most extreme climate policies would be public transport, not private cars and jets, but I must’ve missed the myki card expense report.

Bandt managed to rack up an annual expense bill for 2022 of more than $960,000. Picture: Getty
Bandt managed to rack up an annual expense bill for 2022 of more than $960,000. Picture: Getty

It remains unclear why Bandt thought it appropriate to spend more than $15,000 of our hard earned on a private plane between Canberra and Brisbane to attend a Greens event when there are multiple airlines flying between those two destinations regularly.

Indeed, you can travel that route for as little as $240 with Virgin Australia, $273 with Jetstar and $340 with Qantas.

So, why should taxpayers be expected to stump up $15,000 for a neo-Marxist to attend the election campaign launch for the Greens.

A Greens spokesman defended Bandt’s spend-a-thon saying: “As the leader of the third-largest political party in Australia you would expect Mr Bandt would engage in extensive travel and unlike the Prime Minister and many ministers he doesn’t have access to government VIP flights … all Mr Bandt’s travel is within entitlements.”

Bandt thought it appropriate to spend more than $15,000 of our hard earned on a private plane between Canberra and Brisbane. Picture: Martin Ollman
Bandt thought it appropriate to spend more than $15,000 of our hard earned on a private plane between Canberra and Brisbane. Picture: Martin Ollman

You know what else was within entitlements?

Bronwyn Bishop’s $5000 helicopter flight was also “within entitlements” but that didn’t mean it passed the pub test.

And despite apologising and then covering the cost, Bishop was still forced to step down as speaker of the house.

Don’t expect such accountability from the Greens leader.

Rita Panahi
Rita PanahiColumnist and Sky News host

Rita is a senior columnist at Herald Sun, and Sky News Australia anchor of The Rita Panahi Show and co-anchor of top-rating Sunday morning discussion program Outsiders.Born in America, Rita spent much of her childhood in Iran before her family moved to Australia as refugees. She holds a Master of Business, with a career spanning more than two decades, first within the banking sector and the past ten years as a journalist and columnist.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/rita-panahi/youd-think-the-greens-favoured-transport-would-be-public-transport-not-private-cars-and-jets/news-story/0618a6049e309b2ee5667d909520b7fd