In don’t know about you, but this story makes my blood boil. From The SMH:
A group of retired politicians trying to claw bigger pensions and more free travel from the taxpayer will get their day in court next month.
The High Court has agreed to hear the challenge by four former federal MPs – Labor’s Barry Cunningham, Tony Lamb and Barry Cohen, and Liberal John Moore – seeking a big boost to their entitlements…
If the case is successful it could benefit up to 350 former politicians and 100 spouses, adding millions of dollars to the $40 million pension bill taxpayers already pick up every year. Most MPs who entered Parliament before 2004 are entitled to generous pensions under a defined benefits scheme…
The four plaintiffs already receive annual pensions worth between $80,000 and $118,000 a year, not including bonuses, and up to 10 free business-class return flights a year, but believe they’re entitled to even more.
They’re using section 51 of the constitution… to challenge legislative changes that have slowed the growth of their retirement allowances…
You can’t make this stuff up. At a time when the Federal Budget is structurally stuffed, and Australian taxpayers are being made to tighten their belts, these parasites are demanding even more.
So much for “ending the Age of Entitlement”.
