Andrei.Hicks
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Australian Politics
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Four Labor staff in $60,000 first-class trip
WHILE the world slid into recession, the Federal Government spent almost $60,000 flying four senior staff first class to London to attend a G20 meeting held to deal with the credit crunch.
The Age believes that staff on the flight accompanying Treasurer Wayne Swan were Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's economics adviser Andrew Charlton, Mr Swan's chief of staff Chris Barrett, senior media adviser Matthew Coghlan and media officer Lou Cullen.
It is normal practice for government staff to fly business class — but official guidelines allow them to travel in the same class as a minister or parliamentary secretary when they are travelling on the same service.
The Coalition yesterday seized on the information as evidence of wasteful spending in a tough financial climate. But the Treasurer's office hit back, accusing the Opposition of hypocrisy for criticising staff travel arrangements that also applied under the Howard government.
In response to a question on notice from Liberal senator Michael Ronaldson, Mr Swan said the Government had spent $58,915.70 on return first-class flights for four staff from Canberra to London for the meeting.
"I find it unbelievable that with the global financial crisis and a $58 billion deficit, the Treasurer and Prime Minister allow their staff to swan around in the pointy end of the plane, drinking champagne and eating canapes," Senator Ronaldson said. He added: "This is typical of the Rudd Labor Government — demand belt tightening from the Australian people, but then allow this sort of wasteful indulgence for its own staff."
Earlier, Senator Ronaldson sent out a press release correcting his earlier claim that eight people had travelled first class.
A spokesman for Mr Swan said that Mr Ronaldson's comments were hypocritical, as Mr Swan's travel arrangements were "exactly the same as the previous Treasurer's travel arrangements, including for staff."
He said the travel was acceptable because it was for important preparatory work. "The Treasurer attended the meeting of finance ministers of the world's largest 20 economies convened to develop urgent global responses to the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, accompanied by four ministerial staff," the spokesman said.
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