Politicans Gold Pass

[medhead]

I recall in the past there has been some uncertainty over the fine details of the politicans gold pass - who is eligible, that kind of thing. Well finally News Ltd has come through with some information, just as they might kill off the gold pass.

MPs grounded by travel perk review | The Daily Telegraph

Mr Swan said the pass had been part of politicians' remuneration since the 1920s and might not survive much longer.
Since 2001 the gold pass has cost taxpayers $8.3 million and sent 270 former politicians - occasionally with their husbands and wives - on 20,000 plane trips.

and

Politicians who served in Parliament for 20 years or as a minister for at least six years are entitled to 25 free air trips a year for life - business class.

 

[anat0l]

I'm surprised the cost since 2001 is only a mere $8.3 million dollars.

Sure, that's not enough to build a new hospital, but in any case why the hell do our politicians have this benefit, and why do they deserve it.

Get rid of the damn thing. Politicians already make a mockery of the government expense account as it is already; why should they be given the scummy privilege when they're old and completely worthless to the Australian government?

 

[samh004]

Sounds like I should become a politician!

Also surprised it’s only cost $8.3 million.

 

[medhead]

I guess it is so cheap because not many pollies make 20 years or become ministers. as far a perks go it is pretty cheap, but does it have to be 25 flights per year, why not reduce the number of flights.

 

[markis10]

I guess it is so cheap because not many pollies make 20 years or become ministers. as far a perks go it is pretty cheap, but does it have to be 25 flights per year, why not reduce the number of flights.

Thats one return trip a month, I dont find that excessive to be frank.

I have more issues with the travel bill currently being racked up by our Government and the incredible waste many of the so called stimulus grants are. Signwriters have made more money in the last 6 months than this progam cost not to to mention the visual pollution at each school, and dont start me on the laptops for schools program, a local private school had no "school" computers because the required students to supply their own, yet happily they took over $1M worth of computers under the program.

 

[medhead]

That's one return flight per month on personal activities. I think that could be reduced to 18 say. I'd rather pay for the travel of current pollies when they are doing the business of the government, i.e. representing the taxpayer. Yes I do realise that some of the travel by current pollies is for questionable reasons.

As for the private school a difficult situation clearly the government needs better policy. But then a parent could refuse to buy a computer and demand the use of a tax payer funded pc. Of course the child may never speak to the parent again

 

[Flying Fox]

$8.3M over 90 years? Are we to believe that collectively all the politicans are so restrained to have spent only $92K pa?

That aside, I would like one and I can guarantee to up the current $8.3M amount substantially.... every year!

 

[jaffa]

Econ tix's only is my opinion!

Let them use their sqillions of FF points they have earned at the taxpayers expense to do any upgrades, with the same pot luck as the rest of us get.

Watch there status drop because they are non revenue and smile as they have to start paying for themselves again to retain status to be able use their squillions of points.:mrgreen:

Perhaps there should be a rule:
To recieve your gold card you must forfeit any FF points gained at the taxpayers expense. or
Keep your points and the gold card offers only best avail Econ seats at time of booking and you will negotiate upgrades dirrect with airline

There, l feel better now!

 

[anat0l]

$8.3M over 90 years? Are we to believe that collectively all the politicans are so restrained to have spent only $92K pa?

That aside, I would like one and I can guarantee to up the current $8.3M amount substantially.... every year!

It's $8.3M since 2001. No idea what the cost (corrected to a standard year) would be since the inception of the program.

The rate given amounts to just about $830k per year (10 years). Something doesn't look right if that is supposed to account for 20,000 trips in 10 years, or 2,000 trips per year.

Someone see a flaw in the article or my maths?

 

[wrldtrvllr]

The rate given amounts to just about $830k per year (10 years). Something doesn't look right if that is supposed to account for 20,000 trips in 10 years, or 2,000 trips per year.

Someone see a flaw in the article or my maths?

I'd imagine not all pollies use up their 25 flights pa entitlement every year...

Still no need for taxpayers to provide that "benefit" to pollies when they are no longer in public service.

Otherwise economy flights should suffice and they can use their FF points accumulated from flights during office to upgrade.

 

[codash1099]

I'm happy to allow them their trips, even in J, but not for purely personal reasons.

Many ex pollies move into other areas where they do some good. I'm Ok paying for travel related to that.

 

[SeaWolf]

Actually, I'm inclined to let them keep it. Do you know how much our politicians get payed? It's not much compared to the private sector. If you think of the Prime Minister as the CEO and the Federal Government as a corporation then his pay ($330,300) is woeful compared to similar sized corporations. A backbencher makes about $128,000. Again, against similar roles in the private sector, it's low. So we're not going to attract good talent in our political sector through pay. There's the 'prestige' of a political job, but that's of limited draw and tends to attract show ponies rather than skilled people. This kind of long term perk might cause otherwise disinterested, but skilled and talented people to look at a political role. And $830k per year seems pretty good value for that.

I know there's a whole argument about doing it for the good of the community and that we shouldn't make it business game, but the cold, hard reality is that we're just not attracting the kind of people into politics that we really want and while pay and benefits is only one aspect of the problem, it's an important one.

 

[drron]

Econ tix's only is my opinion!

Let them use their sqillions of FF points they have earned at the taxpayers expense to do any upgrades, with the same pot luck as the rest of us get.

Watch there status drop because they are non revenue and smile as they have to start paying for themselves again to retain status to be able use their squillions of points.:mrgreen:

Perhaps there should be a rule:
To recieve your gold card you must forfeit any FF points gained at the taxpayers expense. or
Keep your points and the gold card offers only best avail Econ seats at time of booking and you will negotiate upgrades dirrect with airline

There, l feel better now!

Do you really wish for this.One way of getting a lot more negative posts on AFF.

 

[medhead]

Actually, I'm inclined to let them keep it. Do you know how much our politicians get payed? It's not much compared to the private sector. If you think of the Prime Minister as the CEO and the Federal Government as a corporation then his pay ($330,300) is woeful compared to similar sized corporations. A backbencher makes about $128,000. Again, against similar roles in the private sector, it's low. So we're not going to attract good talent in our political sector through pay. There's the 'prestige' of a political job, but that's of limited draw and tends to attract show ponies rather than skilled people. This kind of long term perk might cause otherwise disinterested, but skilled and talented people to look at a political role. And $830k per year seems pretty good value for that.

I know there's a whole argument about doing it for the good of the community and that we shouldn't make it business game, but the cold, hard reality is that we're just not attracting the kind of people into politics that we really want and while pay and benefits is only one aspect of the problem, it's an important one.

I have to almost totally disagree. The absolute last person you what as a politician is someone who is doing it for the money. Then there is this suggestion that the PM and Treasurer as equivalent to CEOs etc. What bollocks, Howard and Costello have moved onto their corporate careers that they so richly deserved but were only getting paid peanuts all these years?

And Backbenchers are nothing to get excited about. As a humble public servant I've contirbuted more to the wellbeing of the community.

Anyway, politicians pay is a vexed issue and my real point of the thread was to actually show what the rules are for someone to earn a gold card for airfares.

 

[SeaWolf]

I have to almost totally disagree. The absolute last person you what as a politician is someone who is doing it for the money.

And you could make a very good case to support that idea. The point I was trying to convey is that the Gold Pass is a very nice fringe benefit for positions that aren't very highly paid comparatively and since we (the ever present but non-corporeal taxpayer as a collective entity) aren't spending a huge amount on pay it occurs to me that we shouldn't be stingy with the fringe benefits, especially given how cheap this one is.

 

[Mal]

Howard and Costello have moved onto their corporate careers that they so richly deserved but were only getting paid peanuts all these years?

I think being a minister is basically a junior role for later life. As soon as they leave and have the right connections, they suddenly find very plum roles consulting and working for various companies.

One might comment the rewards start when their ministerial career ends!

 

[drron]

And you could make a very good case to support that idea. The point I was trying to convey is that the Gold Pass is a very nice fringe benefit for positions that aren't very highly paid comparatively and since we (the ever present but non-corporeal taxpayer as a collective entity) aren't spending a huge amount on pay it occurs to me that we shouldn't be stingy with the fringe benefits, especially given how cheap this one is.

The base pay though is only the start.Extra pay for any committee they sit on.Generous coverage of expenses.Little extras like making a profit on disposing of cars.
Although the Super scheme is no where as generous as it was it still is better than mere mortals can get.
Then if you compare to the private sector where pay in general is better the more profit the company makes in government there basically is no profit-though in defence of the pollies when they stuff up they generally soon lose their jobs.