Fed: PM backs allowances caps, commissions report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2001
Fed: PM backs allowances caps, commissions report

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has backed placing caps on generous allowances to politicians
in the wake of damning report which found each MP gets $1.6 million of perks a year.

Mr HOWARD says he believes a variety of allowances may have to be capped and also backed
the release of more information about entitlements being enjoyed by former politicians.

But he stopped short of supporting recommendations contained in an Australian National
Audit Office report which calls for the release of more information about the perks current
MPs receive.

Labor has promised to create a specific entitlement audit office to oversee payments
made to present and former politicians.

The audit office report found Australian taxpayers forked out $354 million to cover
federal MPs' travel, postal, media and other entitlements.

It made 28 recommendations, of which the Department of Finance rejected 25.

AAP RTV sw/daw/jh/jn

KEYWORD: ALLOWANCES (CANBERRA)

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