WHY IS THE AUSTRALIAN LIBERAL PARTY STOCKPILLING TONERS ?

[Anonymous]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26385227-953,00.html
WHY IS THE AUSTRALIAN LIBERAL PARTY
STOCKPILLING TONER CARTRIDGES ?
Liberals stockpiling taxpayer-funded office equipment
A
CRIMINAL investigation has been launched into claims the cash-strapped
Liberal Party is illegally stockpiling taxpayer-funded office equipment.
A month after the Auditor-General uncovered widespread rorting
of MPs’ entitlements, the Liberal Party is fighting allegations it has
breached laws that prevent political parties raiding the public
purse.Some Liberal MPs are also miffed after being contacted by the
party’s Canberra head office and asked to hand over printer toner
cartridges.

Veteran backbencher Alby Schultz angrily fronted
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull over the claims last week during a
partyroom meeting.All MPs receive generous amounts of office equipment –
including printers, toner cartridges and mobile phones – but are
forbidden from giving any equipment to political parties.Mr Schultz
described the practice as “completely inappropriate” and “dumb”,
according to witness reports.

Several other Liberal MPs told The
Courier-Mail they had been contacted by the Liberal Party secretariat
and asked to supply office equipment.”Clearly, we are facing tough
financial times and the party wants a helping hand for the election,”
one Liberal MP said.When the allegations were raised with Special
Minister of State Joe Ludwig, he announced his department would
investigate the alleged misuse of entitlements.”Party secretariats have
no entitlement to taxpayer-funded office consumables. I take all
allegations of misuse of entitlements, including this one, very
seriously,” Senator Ludwig said.

It is understood Mr Turnbull was
deeply angered when he heard of the allegations and has since taken
steps to ensure the practice is discontinued.A recent Auditor-General’s
report found widespread rorting of parliamentary entitlements, including
suggestions that both major parties had cosy relationships with
printing firms.Senator Ludwig has since announced a raft of changes and
has cut back the annual printing entitlement, from $100,000 to $75,000.

[Author]

November 24, 2009 at 10:58 AM