DEAR News Of The Area,

I NOTE that our busy Federal parliament has scheduled just five more sitting days before the next election.

Nice to see them working so hard and dodging sensible action on climate change, and on a Federal ICAC to counter the rising stench of corruption.

To remind us of how they spend our money to keep themselves in power, and keep their friends happy, here is a 39 step list I keep to hand!

• Car park rorts scandal: pork barrelling from the car park commuter fund: $660m
• Sports rorts: pork barrelling from a community sports infrastructure fund
• Pork barrelling from the Community Development Grants Program: 75% of $3bn to liberal/marginal seats
• Pork barrelling from the Urban Congestion Fund: 83% of $3bn to liberal/marginal seats
• Pork barrelling from the Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream: $150m mostly to two liberal seats
• Grant redirection from the Safer Communities Fund
• Great Barrier Reef Foundation grant of $443m
• Helloworld flights for Gormann (who also spent $380,000 on travel to secure a job overseas)
• LNP President takes a job with rival party leader Clive Palmer
• Paladin scandal on Manus: $423m, the company has revenue now of $1.5bn
• AAT appointment of former Coalition politicians
• Appointment of former Coalition politicians to various boards and roles
• The awarding of Covid-19 vaccine contracts
• Attorney General appoints party donor to appeals tribunal at $370,000 pa
• “Political research” paid for by taxpayers and not publicly disclosed $500,000
• Travel expenses: Murdoch Christmas party
• Travel expenses: Channel Nine fundraiser
• Travel expenses: Melbourne Cup
• Travel expenses: Adelaide fundraiser
• Travel expenses: Julie Bishop polo event
• Travel expenses: Sussan Ley
• Travel expenses: Bronwyn Bishop
• Travel expenses: AFL grand final
• Travel expenses: Tony Abbott’s farewell party
• Travel expenses: George Christensen travel to Philippines
• Parakeelia and software allowances
• Government purchase of water licenses and Angus Taylor
• Leppington Triangle scandal $30m
• Stuart Robert and Nimrod
• Stuart Robert director of company that received government contracts
• Altered document used by Angus Taylor’s staff to attack Clover Moore
• Pork barrelling with the bushfire disaster fund
• Stuart Robert’s internet expenses
• Barnaby Joyce’s new offices
• Asic payments
• Scott Morrison’s bushfire advertisement
• Australia Post/Cartier watch controversy
• The au pairs controversy
• Barnaby Joyce and the drought envoy role

Regards,
Howard DENGATE,
Coffs Coast.