Is this fair? Greens Senator pockets $285 travel allowance – only spends $25 a night
Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon’s travel allowance has been placed under the microscope, after a report published in the Daily Telegraph alleges the pollie is pocketing generous weekly travel entitlements on top of her $200,000 salary.
The Daily Telegraph reports Senator Rhiannon spends just $25 a night on accommodation when Parliament sits in Canberra, but claims a $285 nightly allowance.
The report notes she is perfectly entitled to do so.
The Daily Telegraph says this arrangement means Ms Rhiannon takes home an additional $1,040 every week on top of her salary, close to national average weekly earnings of $1,191.
Ms Rhiannon has said the practice is “acceptable”.
“Any of my travel allowance that has not been used I have spent on carrying out other parliamentary work-related duties and other expenses arising from being an MP,” she said.
“A reimbursement model would be fine too.”
The Daily Telegraph states there is no suggestion Senator Rhiannon is breaking any rules, and published an additional statement from Greens leader Richard Di Natale who said, “all of our members undertake official travel in accordance with the guidelines set out for parliamentarians”.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the travel allowance is exorbitant?