THE INDEPENDENT: A row over political expenses in Britain spurred questions in Australia today, as a tabloid newspaper carried details of private homes purchased with taxpayer backing by members of parliament.
Leftist Prime Minister Kevin Rudd extended a pay freeze for politicians to judges and senior bureaucrats at the same time that the mass-selling Daily Telegraph newspaper said MPs were claiming travel expenses for living in their own Canberra homes.
"Up you for their rent," said the Sydney-based newspaper's headline, in a crude inference taxpayers were being saddled with living costs by their representative politicians.
The headline was placed against photographs of homes and apartments in the national capital, where Australian politicians regularly jet in from far-flung electorates to attend parliament.
Britain's House of Commons speaker stepped down yesterday in the wake of an expenses scandal that has damaged the reputation of parliament amid revelations taxpayer funds were used to claim everything from manure to chandeliers and porn films.
Australian MPs, using entitlements approved by parliament, were claiming travel allowances while living in private homes purchased for use during parliamentary sitting weeks over 4-5 months of the year, the Telegraph said. >>> Reuters | Wednesday, May 20, 2009
