September 30, 2010 - 6:29PM
Victorian Premier John Brumby ran up a $50,000 bill during a trip to the Middle East and China in a quarter in which ministers splashed out $110,000 on travel.
Mr Brumby and two advisers racked up the bill during a nine-day trip to the United Arab Emirates and China in May.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike spent more than $32,000 on travel in the June quarter and Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan $28,000.
Mr Brumby's $50,000 bill included more than $36,000 on business class airfares, $8000 on accommodation and $5000 on other expenses.
During the trip the premier met with government officials and opened Victoria Week at the Shanghai World Expo.
Mr Brumby justified the lavish trip saying the purpose of his visits was to "enhance Victoria's international competitiveness and attractiveness as a business, trade, tourism and investment partner".
Ms Pike was accompanied by her husband and a staffer on her 11-day trip to the UAE and India in May and June, totting up $15,000 in airfares and more than $17,000 in accommodation and other expenses.
Ms Allan and a staffer billed taxpayers $28,000 for their nine-day trip to China in May, including $17,000 in airfares and more than $10,000 on hotels and other costs.
The premier and two ministers are frequent jet setters, each enjoying two overseas trips last financial year.
Together they and eight other ministers spent $466,000 on a total of 15 trips in 2009/10.
Mr Brumby spent $143,000 on his two trips - more than double what the average Victorian earns in a year.
A government spokesman said ministerial travel played an important role in attracting investment, business opportunities and jobs to the state.
The details of the trips were posted on the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development website quarterly.
David Davis, opposition spokesman for Scrutiny of Government, says the government has not demonstrated any real value for Victorians in the overseas trips.
"John Brumby and his arrogant government are way out of touch with Victorians struggling from a lack of basic services and skyrocketing costs of living," Mr Davis said.
"They have clocked up frequent flyer points on international travel and lived high on the hog courtesy of Victorian taxpayers."
WCV's: So this why 5000 of us were excluded from the ACA changes ?
Just so Mr Brumby can travel in style...what a fuckin insult....workcover is
a right not a privllege.
How many lives would 110k improve Mr brumby?
Tim Holding continually tells me that this gov cant afford to include us then
we see stories like this and you wonder why we get pissed off !
Stop lying to us and include us instead of discriminating against us !!!
2 comments:
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Hi Fighter, Hang in there I know how hard dealing with worksafes bullshit can be but you must not let them win so stay strong and follow your convictions....there is always a silver lining behind every dark cloud and we here a wcv's understand how you feel and we will always support you with up to date stories and information so keep reading the blog and hopefully you will find some peace with being able to aquire the knowledge you need to beat them at their own game ! cheers and good luck keep in touch xoxo
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