TASMANIAN Senator Lisa Singh says politicians should not take taxpayer-funded flights between Launceston and Hobart, as pressure mounts on her ALP colleague Helen Polley to explain her expenses. The Examiner last year revealed Senator Polley made 16 chartered flights between the two cities from June 2011 to June 2013, costing taxpayers $23,000. Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic and Senator Singh have drawn the flights into the spotlight after Speaker Bronwyn Bishop agreed to repay more than $5000 for chartering a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong. But Senator Polley said her expenses and Ms Bishop’s were not in the same category. ‘‘Quite frankly, there’s a big difference between me working and servicing my electorate, and Bronwyn Bishop attending a Liberal Party function,’’ she said. While Senator Singh did not name Senator Polley, she said taxpayer-funded flights between Hobart and Launceston were not appropriate. ‘‘It’s not something that I would do,’’ Senator Singh said. ‘‘I’ve made that trip many times and it’s only a 2-hour car ride. ‘‘Just because it’s within entitlement, doesn’t mean you should do it.’’ Mr Nikolic called on Senator Polley to repay the money and for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to apply the same standards. ‘‘Senator Polley should not only explain the reasons for the travel, but follow Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s example and repay the money,’’ Mr Nikolic said. ‘‘Mr Shorten said politicians should just ‘hop into their cars’ – well the same question should be asked of Senator Polley about her travel between Launceston and Hobart.’’ When news of the flights broke, Mr Shorten said Labor would ‘‘find out what has happened’’, but has yet to comment on the matter since. Senator Singh was recently demoted to the almost-unwinnable fourth position on Labor’s Senate ticket for the next election, while Senator Polley will be second on the paper.
TASMANIAN Senator Lisa Singh says politicians should not take taxpayer-funded flights between Launceston and Hobart, as pressure mounts on her ALP colleague Helen Polley to explain her expenses.
The Examiner last year revealed Senator Polley made 16 chartered flights between the two cities from June 2011 to June 2013, costing taxpayers $23,000.
Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic and Senator Singh have drawn the flights into the spotlight after Speaker Bronwyn Bishop agreed to repay more than $5000 for chartering a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong.
But Senator Polley said her expenses and Ms Bishop’s were not in the same category.
‘‘Quite frankly, there’s a big difference between me working and servicing my electorate, and Bronwyn Bishop attending a Liberal Party function,’’ she said.
While Senator Singh did not name Senator Polley, she said taxpayer-funded flights between Hobart and Launceston were not appropriate.
‘‘It’s not something that I would do,’’ Senator Singh said.
‘‘I’ve made that trip many times and it’s only a 2-hour car ride.
‘‘Just because it’s within entitlement, doesn’t mean you should do it.’’
Mr Nikolic called on Senator Polley to repay the money and for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to apply the same standards.
‘‘Senator Polley should not only explain the reasons for the travel, but follow Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s example and repay the money,’’ Mr Nikolic said.
‘‘Mr Shorten said politicians should just ‘hop into their cars’ – well the same question should be asked of Senator Polley about her travel between Launceston and Hobart.’’
When news of the flights broke, Mr Shorten said Labor would ‘‘find out what has happened’’, but has yet to comment on the matter since.
Senator Singh was recently demoted to the almost-unwinnable fourth position on Labor’s Senate ticket for the next election, while Senator Polley will be second on the paper.
