UP, UP AND AWAY WITH HIGH-FLYING POLLIES

IT’S hard to go past “Airbus Albo” as a moniker for our high-flying PM. “Kevin 747” also reaches lofty heights in taxpayer-funded travel, but what name can we come up with for another former PM in Malcolm Turnbull who has managed to rack up $370,000 without even leaving the ground?

A dive into former prime ministers’ entitlements, via the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, shows the nation’s living former leaders cost taxpayers $1.5m in the year to March 31, 2022, through their travel, office, phone and car costs.

The vast chunk of former PM Turnbull’s costs was made up of office accommodation, at $350,000 in the 12 months ending in March.

Other PMS’ office expenses ranged from about $100,000 to $310,000, with those based in Sydney tending towards the higher end of the scale.

John Howard was the next most expensive former leader for taxpayers, with his entitlements costing taxpayers $349,493 in the year to March.

Former prime ministers are afforded access to a range of entitlements, including up to 30 domestic return flights – as long as they are not for a commercial purpose – office and employee costs, and some family travel.

Airbus Albo currently has had no such limitation since jogging almost immediately from his election win to his seat in the pointy end of the plane for a busy schedule of trips that have included Japan, France and Ukraine.

All worthy and expected trips, but for the sake of the national travel budget, let’s hope he becomes a less frequent traveller once he leaves office.