THERE has been much discussion about “leaners” and “lifters” by this federal government.
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Personally, I find the labels appalling, but regardless I feel both Prime Minister Abbott and Treasurer Hockey are leaners.
Mr Abbott has made several travel claims when undertaking his bike ride for charity.
Given he labels it his bike ride for charity, I would have thought he would have provided his own funds for accommodation rather than claiming more than $10,000 from taxpayers.
It appears to me he is the “charity” recipient of funds in this event.
Now we hear Joe Hockey claims $270 a night (not a week) to rent his wife’s house while staying in Canberra.
It smacks of opportunism, if not immorality to my mind.
What next?
Do I put my house in my wife’s name and claim mortgage repayments as a tax deduction as I would then be renting from her when I stay overnight? Not likely.
Prime Minister Abbott has already repaid thousands of dollars illegitimately claimed to fund his book launch.
More recently he has attended Liberal party functions, but apparently arranged to visit the Peter Mac Cancer Hospital the next day in order to justify the travel claim, it appears.
All legitimate, apparently.
Oh, if Peter Slipper could have only been so creative, a visit to a winery could have been followed by a visit to a constituent next door and all would have been well.
It appears to me this government cannot discern the difference between integrity and theft.
Contrast this to Premier John Cain, who used to buy his own stamps when posting a letter.
— GREG OATES,
Huon Creek