Fed: MPs $90 allowance boost can't be justified: Greens

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2009
Fed: MPs $90 allowance boost can't be justified: Greens

HOBART, April 27 AAP - A $90 per week increase in federal MPs' allowances can't be
justified, Greens leader Bob Brown says.

The $4,700 electoral allowance increase equals a 17 per cent jump in the allowance
to the new base of $32,000.

It is worth $90 a week to MPs - three times the $30 a week increase pensioners are
fighting for in the budget.

Senator Brown says the recession means now is the wrong time to be expanding the global
income of MPs, despite the remuneration tribunal's recommendation.

"We hear through government sources that the government is struggling to find the money
to give pensioners a $30 per week increase," Senator Brown told ABC radio on Monday.

"And in fact some of that money may be needed to go across to the increasing number
of Australians who have no income because they have lost their jobs and are going onto
employment benefit.

"You can't justify MPs getting an extra $90 a week, even in this form, under these
circumstances."

AAP pc/it

KEYWORD: ALLOWANCE GREENS

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