Macklin, who earns $903 a day, reckons she could live on the dole. She said this after moving 84,000 single mothers from a parenting payment to the dole, who now have to survive on just $35 a day. Those 84,000 single mothers now stand to lose about $230 per week. Her office then screwed up the release of the transcript of the interview, trying to edit out her comment that she could live off the dole, saying that a car engine made that portion of the interview "inaudible". Is she serious? What a fool!!! Even her own staff don't think she could live off the dole!!!

Yep..we all know slash and burn phony tony will be increasing dole payments as soon as he rises to power 
If pensioners and those on unemployment benefits think things are bad now just wait until Phony Tony claws back every increase Labor has given them since 2007.
Crikey phony tony once complained that he couldnt live on anything less than a Ministers salary so if he isnt out of touch I dont know who is 

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:35am:

Glad you like what labor are doing.

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 6:35am:


tony once complained that he couldn’t live on anything less than a Ministers salary

Show a little sympathy - imagine being cut back to $190,550 with additional salary around +60% (aprox $85,000).

Things like Travel allowance, electorate allowance,

A base rate of electorate allowance of $32,000 per annum is payable to each
senator and member &

A supplementary electorate allowance of $6,000 per annum (electorate 4,999 KMsq.)

A supplementary electorate allowance of $14,000 per annum (over 5000KMsq.)

Travel allowance - including family or nominated person.

Private vehicle allowance

Provision of a vehicle.  "A senator shall, at his or her request, be provided with an Australian made,
private plated standard vehicle, as advised by the Special Minister of State."

A member representing an electorate of 300,000 km2 or more shall, at his
or her request, be provided with a private plated standard vehicle, as
advised by the Special Minister of State, or a four wheel drive motor
vehicle.

From 20 March 2006, senators and members who choose not to be provided with a vehicle 'will be entitled to an additional $19 500 per annum of electorate allowance in lieu of the private plated vehicle

Subject to the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002, a senator or
member who, on retirement from the Parliament, has completed the qualifying
periods set out in 8.2 shall be issued with a Life Gold Pass1.

A senator or member shall be entitled to have access to the following at
Commonwealth expense:
(a) two telephone lines, including rental, transfer and call costs in their private
residence(s); and
(b) installation, maintenance and rental of an answering service or equipment
of a type specified by the Special Minister of State.

Living away from home allowance / accommodation.

Meals provided while in session.

Imagine the hardship involves in trying to eak out an existence on such a meagre income.

When Tony Abbott went onto an opposition back benchers salary he said he couldnt afford his mortgage payments.
This is a man in his 50s who is well established and has almost always lived on taxpayers money.
This fella wants us to think he has the brains to run the Australian economy when he cant even run his own finances when he's on easy street for life.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:22am:


So Macklins salary & perks should be cut to $35 per day...

The Heartless Felon wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:27am:



She talked the talk.

She should now walk the walk.

If she won't, she should be shamed into it.

adelcrow wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2013 at 7:48am: