Former prime minsters costing Aussie taxpayers fortune in entitlements
Shocking figures recently released reveal the high cost to Australian taxpayers to keep former prime minsters, totalling a staggering $430,449 in entitlements for the first six months of last year.
The sizeable figure does not include the six-figure pension the former prime ministers are already receiving according to The Daily Telegraph.
The figure also doesn’t include any costs incurred by Tony Abbott, who remains in parliament after losing office in September last year.
The five former leaders, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, are able to claim the generous entitlements.
Included in the long list of entitlements is a city office, business class travel, a personal vehicle, limousine travel to official events, taxpayer-funded phones and fax machines as well as printing allowances.
Also included is the cost for their spouse to travel with them to engagements.
Over the coming decades the cost of the entitlements are expected to top more than $1 million annually with all former prime ministers able to claim the payments until their death.
Former Prime Ministers Mr Abbott, Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard are all under 60 and could potentially be able to claim entitlements for the next four decades costing Australian taxpayers millions.
According to The Daily Telegraph John Howard tops the list as his plush Sydney office cost taxpayers $106,767.03 in rent for the first six months of 2015.
Second in line is former Labor leader Kevin Rudd with his costs totalling $83,000 for the same six-month period.
Julia Gillard came under scrutiny in 2014 when she spent $408,304.34 on fitting out her office in Adelaide and another $46,108.30 on facilities.
However, The Daily Telegraph reports her current costs for keeping the office are $25,0000.
Outspoken independent Senator Nick Xenophon, who travels economy class has pushed for entitlements to be reined in.
“There must be a more cost-effective way of honouring our former prime ministers,’’ Mr Xenophon told The Daily Telegraph.
News break – January 4
