NSW: MPs to be quizzed over entitlement rorts

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1998
NSW: MPs to be quizzed over entitlement rorts

EDS: PLEASE CLOSE OFF EARLIER STORY SLUGGED EXPENSES MPS

By Neil Sands, State Political Correspondent

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - More than 25 New South Wales politicians will be grilled by the states
corruption watchdog over taxpayer-funded jaunts to holiday destinations and other
parliamentary rorts.

But Independent Commission Against Corruption chief Barry OKeefe has put the
politically-sensitive investigation on hold until after the March state election.

Mr OKeefe released a report detailing extensive rorting in state parliament and
recommending tighter controls over MPs perks.

He expressed disappointment at the level of abuse and said MPs should be setting an
example.

"All political leaders should commit now to introducing significant changes in the members
entitlement system, which the ICAC has shown to be open to misuse and urgently in need of
reform," he said.

Most cases concerned travel warrants - MPs are only supposed to use them for parliamentary
business but Mr OKeefe found many used them for personal holidays.

Coolangatta was the most popular destination for state politicians, with 108 MPs making 333
trips to the Gold Coast resort town between 1990-98.

Mr OKeefe indicated at least 25 MPs from both sides of politics were under scrutiny.

"There could be more, as we look further the ambit widens," he told reporters.

Mr OKeefe said inquiries into the rorts would not be held before the March state election.

Earlier this year, ICAC declared Labor cabinet minister Brian Langton corrupt for using
other MPs travel warrants, forcing him to resign his portfolio.

But Mr OKeefe said it was too early to name any more MPs, saying some might have credible
explanations for their actions.

The rorts by MPs included:

* country MPs flying staff into Sydney for Christmas shopping sprees under the guise of
"familiarisation with parliamentary, governmental and related matters".

* an MP who made 13 weekend trips to Coolangatta during his last year in parliament.

* MPs on an overseas trip pressuring a parliamentary clerk to use a taxpayer-funded credit
card to pay for tourism activities.

* allegations of nepotism, with some politicians encouraged to use a travel agent
associated with an MPs family.

* an MP who arranged a last-minute meeting with local officials at a holiday destination so
he could claim a pre-arranged weekend break was to investigate tourism options for his
electorate.

* electorate office and staff being used by an MP to run his private business.

* an electoral office being used as a factional base, with an MP using tax-payer funded
equipment to organise mail outs, telephone calls and publication of factional material.

A senior government source, who did not want to be named, said the allegations involved
only a small amount of the 45,000 trips taken over the past eight years.

He said the ICAC officer who wrote the report had not contacted a single MP and had little
idea of the task politicians performed.

"Its the most slothful report Ive seen in all my time in parliament," he said.

"He didnt talk to anyone."

The report made 63 recommendations to clean up parliament, including a special
corruption-busting team of MPs, auditors, political party officials, investigators and senior
public servants.

He also said MPs should receive ethics training and end the culture of secrecy surrounding
their entitlements.

Mr OKeefe said a follow-up report analysing MPs response to his suggestions would be
released before his term as commissioner expired in November next year.

AAP ns/sb

KEYWORD: EXPENSES NIGHTLEAD

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