Fordham blasts ‘sickening’ Canberra rort that sees MPs use taxpayer money to pay off MORTGAGES
Ben Fordham has unleashed on Australian politicians after it emerged federal MPs were claiming travel expenses to stay at home – essentially paying off their own mortgages.
The 2GB host said it was ‘sickening’ members of parliament can claim $291 a night from the taxpayer to travel to Canberra even if they are staying in a house they own.
‘We’ve had a million people in NSW out of work during this pandemic and MPs are having taxpayers pay off their mortgage,’ Fordham said on Tuesday.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese used the loophole to leave his Sydney electorate during the city’s lockdown and move to his Canberra apartment for 59 days – claiming $17,000 in the process.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson has also claimed $138,700 in travel expenses over the past five years to live in a Canberra apartment he bought in 2017 for $369,000.
Ben Fordham has unleashed on Australian politicians after it emerged federal MPs were claiming travel expenses to stay at home
Fordham said both had done nothing wrong, but that the system showed politicians ‘are on another planet’.
Canberra is the only Australian capital city where MPs can live in their own home and still claim a travel allowance.
‘Some Sydney suburbs have 70 per cent of homes suffering mortgage stress – they can’t make their next payment or support their family,’ he said.
‘Then we have MPs claiming $291 a night to have taxpayers pay off their mortgage. It’s an inside joke… a sickening waste of money.’
Mr Albanese claimed $21,020 for 74 nights spent in Canberra, Queensland and Tasmania during Victoria and NSW’s lockdowns last year, news.com.au reported.
The Labor leader said he had no plans to change the travel allowance rules on Monday.
‘The rules are there in terms of travel allowance,’ he told 3AW.
Liberal MP Tim Wilson pictured right. He has claimed $138,700 in travel expenses over the past five years to live in a Canberra apartment he bought in 2017 for $369,000
‘The Remuneration Tribunal is arm’s length from politicians and I think that’s a very good idea… so that we’re not determining our own entitlements.’
Mr Wilson also defended his 95 taxpayer-funded nights in Canberra last year – which cost $27,645 between May 23 and September 26.
His spokesman said those nights included a month in quarantine so he could attend parliament.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese used the loophole to leave his Sydney electorate during the city’s lockdown and move to his Canberra apartment for 59 days
‘Across 2020 and 2021, Assistant Minister Wilson spent a month in quarantine due to border controls imposed by State and Territory Governments to attend Parliament and Chair Parliamentary Committees,’ the spokesman said.
Mr Wilson then went to Brisbane and Rockhampton on Defence force business before flying back to Canberra.
‘Upon completion of the Exercise, the Assistant Minister returned to Canberra because of the risk of border closures that could have prohibited him from attending Parliament,’ the spokesman said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Albanese and Mr Wilson’s offices for further comment.