System to blame, not Ley
I am a GP in Albury and Sussan Ley is my federal MP. I speak to Minister Ley frequently on matters of rural health policy and the health system in general, for example the interaction of GP’s and their patients with the public hospital system and the need for increased health resources in aged care in rural areas.
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I understand public anger on the travel expenses claimed for multiple visits to the Gold Coast by Minister Ley in performing her duties as federal Health Minister.
I also understand that Minister Ley can confirm official ministerial duties were undertaken on all the visits for which travel expenses were claimed.
The error of judgement, which Minister Ley acknowledges, is making travel claims for trips to the Gold coast when she dealt with private matters, such as real estate, as well as performing her health minister role.
I am sure lots of business people travel to the Gold coast for work reasons and in their private time may attend to personal matters as well but still claim travel from their employer for the trip.
Minister Ley has offered to pay money back for any trip to the Gold Coast where personal issues were attended to in addition to attending official government related meetings.
I feel there are a lot of crocodile tears and mock horror from the Labor opposition and unnamed cabinet colleagues about Sussan Ley’s predicament.
The real blame lies not with Minister Ley but rather with the ALP federal opposition and the Liberal Coalition government for not fixing a broken MP entitlement system despite inquiries and even proposed legislation by independents such as Nick Xenophon to tighten claiming rules.
This issue is a systemic problem, not a Sussan Ley problem.
There has been plenty of opportunity for both the Labor and Liberal Party to fix the MP entitlement loopholes but of course if there is one thing both sides of politics agree on it’s how much they pay themselves.
So, throwing Susann Ley to the media wolves won’t fix the largesse politicians vote for themselves no matter what political party they represent.
Only Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten can fix the remuneration issue which not only includes so called rorts of entitlements but also outrageously generous superannuation and pensions that the general public don’t have access to.
I challenge the Prime Minister and Opposition leader to fix this as soon as possible.
A simple change to the MP travel claim rules would be if there is any private business conducted in addition to official work related matters then the trip is no longer claimable on the taxpayer.
Sacking Sussan Ley from the health portfolio won’t fix a broken system but it will definitely damage the health system.
Minister Ley performs very well in the health portfolio – one of the most difficult jobs in politics in Australia.
Minister Ley has built up close and deep working relationships with stakeholders throughout the Australian health system during her years as health minister and her removal from this role will significantly damage relationships between leaders in the Australian health system and the Federal Government.
Dr James Chenoweth, Albury
Fly the flag at schools
Do all the public schools that wont allow the Australian Flag to fly in their school yards understand where the money comes from to run that school?
It comes from the Australian government via our taxes.
Don't pull your political or religious beliefs on our public schools. We pay for them, not the hierarchy of the local school.
Put that Australian flag back up on those poles where it belongs.
Take your political agendas somewhere else and away from our kids.