Poll time spending splurge by pollies

SENATOR Ian Macdonald claimed 85 per cent of his 2016 communications entitlement during the six- week federal election campaign.

The Townsville- based senator spent $ 35,196 of taxpayer money to communicate with voters during the campaign, and just $ 5892 for the rest of 2016.

The claims came on top of the $ 20,884 Senator Macdonald claimed at the 2013 election campaign and $ 1930 during the 2010 campaign.

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

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

A spokeswoman for Senator Macdonald said the senator had not breached any rules regarding entitlements.

“All communications from Senator Macdonald’s office are carried out within the specified guidelines,” she said.

Two Queensland parliamentarians who lost their seats did not spend a cent on printing or communications outside the election campaign.

Former senator Glenn Lazarus and former LNP MP Wyatt Roy only used the allowance during the six- week campaign period, with Mr Lazarus claiming almost $ 100,000 in that period.

Mr Roy spent about $ 23,000 during the campaign and none before the election was called.