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I won't go into the hypocrisy of the like of Brandis or Reith (who repaid $50,000 phone tab while a Minister), or how deeply concerning the close friendship of Barnaby Joyce and Gina Reinhart is now that it has extended to a financial relationship.
What is of greatest concern is that our Prime Minister seems to be a serial offender. From wedding expenses, to book launches, to attending fun runs and swim events as a competitor. An explanation needs to be forthcoming about all questionable claims, and all monies which need to be repaid should be forthcoming in one payment. A line needs to be drawn in the sand, and all future governance needs to be more transparent. Transparency is not achieved through ridiculous steps like receipts for taxpayers which will likely highlight how much we spend in broad terms on hospitals, prisons, and detention centres but which will provide little or no detail on how much is spent on weddings, fun runs, and personal libraries. And then there is this post which outlines $84,000 worth of claims by Mr Abbott on attending sporting events or competing in them.
The smear campaigns of the Abbott opposition did a great deal to debase the office of the PM, I do hope that his time in office doesn't do a great deal more damage.
If the entitlement rules are ambiguous, they are broken and need to be fixed as soon as possible. And Politicians have the power to do so.
If Political parties are hiding (even promoting) corrupt individuals, then party reform is necessary or overdue. The recent issue of lobbyists holding positions of power inside political parties is a related issue. The threatened suspension of John Ruddick over his moves to remove those with vested interests from positions of power inside the NSW Liberal party are not good signs.
But it isn't just about what the other guy is doing. As Labor embarks on its own reform process, we need to be serious about the same moves towards transparency inside the party. If we don't, there will be no compelling reason for people to show an interest in the party. And if we don't have widespread public support, we don't have a reason to exist.
Right now, there are serious questions that need to be asked of the Abbott government, but they are also questions that need to be asked more broadly of Australian politics. I fully support the calls by the Federal Labor party for a wider investigation.