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Ex-premiers get millions from public purse
Friday 30 April 2010
Commenting on the revelation that former NSW premiers have received millions of dollars of public money to cover their expenses Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on the Keneally government to set much stricter limits on the annual allowance available to former holders of high office.
A Channel 9 FOI request has revealed that former premiers Neville Wran, Nick Greiner and Bob Carr received about $3.8 million in allowances from 2007 to 2009. Mr Greiner's allowance has increased almost $100,000 over the last three years going from $406,357 in 2007 to $500,919 in 2009.
"Premier Kristina Keneally needs to clean up these excessive allowances. Limits on the size of the allowance and for how many years ex-premiers are eligible for such payments are needed," said Ms Rhiannon.
"It is 17 years since Mr Greiner was the NSW premier. It is a bit rich that he is allowed to spend half a million dollars of public money annually just because he was in the top job for four years.
"Some level of payment is justified when former premiers first leave office but limits are needed.
"It is difficult to see how Mr Greiner's current contribution to public life in NSW justifies such a massive allowance.
"He retired on a very generous parliamentary retirement package and now is chairman of big companies including Citigroup Australia, Bilfinger Berger and United Utilities.
"A reform plan for ex-premiers' allowance packages needs to ensure greater transparency to clarify how this money is spent.
"The considerable increase in Mr Greiner's expenses is in the 'general operating' category which is defined as 'consumables, IT equipment and services, utilities'. In 2007 $29,695 was itemised in this category rising to $72,967 in 2009.
"This is public money. The public have a right to more details on how these allowances are spent. The term 'general operating' category is not informative.
"The costs Mr Wran and Mr Carr have run up are in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. For both of them the amount they received has gone down from 2008 to 2009. Mr Iemma who was premier for three years spends under $40,000 each year.
"These revelations just make the public more cynical about the political process. Ms Keneally needs to move quickly to gain independent advice on what limits would be appropriate and put them in place," Ms Rhiannon said.
Contact: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
