Pollies reject changes to their second-home perks
FEDERAL politicians on both sides of the fence have opposed calls to tighten up perks that allow them to claim tax deductions on their second homes in Canberra.
The perk, a result of a 17-year-old tax ruling, allows MPs to claim costs linked to their second homes including rent, lease payments, taxes, insurance and general maintenance of the property.
But it has come under the spotlight after reports in the past week highlighting the fact that many politicians own apartments in Canberra, but also claim a $270 nightly travel allowance while staying in them.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann (pictured) told ABC yesterday he did not “like the rules”, but admitted to using them to claim costs on his own Canberra apartment.
“None of us politicians make the rules; we are just expected to comply with them,” he said.
He said he needed it because he spent a lot of time in the capital away from his home and family in Perth, and the tax deductions were independently set by the Remuneration Tribunal and tax office.
Labor frontbencher Tony Burke told the Nine Network he also supported such perks being set independently.
“I think politicians are the last people who should be determining what the rules for politicians are,” he said.
Politicians’ perks have come under scrutiny in the past year, since revelations of then-speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s use of a helicopter.
ARM Newsdesk also last year reported revelations that all MPs and senators had spent $19 million on their communications entitlement during the past two election campaigns.