Our ex-MPs still riding gravy train

FORMER Gold Coast MPs are still claiming thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel entitlements without having to publicly declare when and where they went.

Two Coast-based former State members racked up nearly $10,000 in air and rail travel costs last financial year, according to the Annual Report of Travel Benefits Afforded Former Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The report, tabled in State Parliament ahead of the long weekend, shows Gold Coastbased former Brisbane MP and one-time Police and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence clocked up one of the highest bills of former State members last financial year with $9682.46 worth of taxpayer-funded travel expenses.

Margaret Keech, a former member for Albert, which was absorbed into the electorates of Logan and Coomera last year, wasn’t far behind – the one-time Fair Trading Minister spent $8063.44.

The annual report of travel benefits does not record where or when the trips were taken.

That will all change on December 31, when all former MPs’ travel entitlements will be abolished following a 2014 decision by the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal (QIRT) that the scheme is too costly.

Former National Party member for Burleigh Judy Gamin ($1884.46) was among the local MPs who claimed expenses under the scheme last financial year while the Labor pollie who succeeded her, Christine Smith, claimed $4291.40.

One-time premier and member for Surfers Paradise Bob Borbidge claimed $1743.35 while Ray Connor, who once held the seat of Nerang for the Liberal party, spent $4017.56 on travel on the public purse.

Bob Quinn, a one-time Liberal Party leader and member for the now abolished seat of Merrimac and later, Robina, and former member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas didn’t cost us a cent. Nor did former member for Bonney Allan Grice.