COST OF CAMPAIGN

KATTER’S ELECTION CASH:

RURAL firebrand MP Bob Katter charged taxpayers almost $100,000 in communications during the 2016 federal election campaign.

The claim was significantly higher than Mr Katter’s use of the entitlement at the 2010 and 2013 elections. In the six-week campaign, the Kennedy MP claimed $98,085 to communicate with voters. He claimed $16,588 for the rest of 2016.

In the 2010 election, Mr Katter claimed $5.73 for communications, and he claimed $1507 during the 2013 election.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch claimed $34,207 during the 2016 campaign, about 44 per cent of his entire 2016 claim. That claim was a significant decrease from the $98,780 Mr Entsch claimed at the 2013 election.

There is no suggestion the claims are outside the rules. There are no rules against parliamentarians using the printing and communications entitlement during election campaigns.

But experts have called for restrictions to stop politicians using taxpayer money to advertise themselves, an advantage challengers do not have.

Mr Katter did not answer questions about his use of the entitlement. A spokesman for Mr Entsch said using the allowance to communicate with voters during a campaign was not prohibited and had to meet guidelines.

“Communications met from the office budget can be for their own parliamentary or electorate business, but not for party or commercial business,” he said. Mr Entsch’s claim included more than $20,000 to print and post his regular quarterly newsletter.