Another month, and seemingly another federal politician caught red-handed riding the gravy train express.
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This time around, said train derailed rather badly with now former Health Minister Sussan Ley on board.
Not for the first time, apparently, Ms Ley took a taxpayer-funded trip that somehow managed to include more than enough time to take care of a bit of personal business on the side.
Ms Ley admitted she made an "error of judgment" for charging the taxpayer for a trip to the Gold Coast in May 2015. It was during this trip she bought a $800,000 apartment “on the spur of the moment”, or something like that.
It soon came to light she had made three other similar trips - which will now all be repaid personally by Ms Ley.
The embattled MP released a statement on Sunday, which said the apartment auction was not the reason for the trip, but that she realised the purchase had "changed the context of the travel undertaken".
That Ms Ley has agreed to repay for all four trips is inconsequential.
The issue here is the incredible feeling of entitlement that appears to exist amongst our federal politicians.
Tasmania’s federal MPs aren’t immune to a decent dose of self-entitlement when it suits them. Spending up big rather than taking the more frugal approach can be problematic for some of them.
Between January 1 last year and June 30, former Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck spent $126,000 on overseas travel, $42,365 on domestic fares with a further $9100 on family travel costs, according to the federal Finance Department.
Dumped Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic was more miserly when it came to travel expenses, but did rack up $6000 on family travel.
Senator Stephen Parry paid $103,000 for “office facilities”, and a further $10,600 on family travel and more than $6800 on telecommunications costs.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie tallied $132,7000 in "office administration costs", while Labor's Julie Collins registered almost $100,000 in the same column.
Of course, it is merely speculation whether they would be happy to incur the same costs if it was all coming out of their weekly family budget.
But then again, thinking that could be considered cynical.
