Tony Abbott rejects claims he got a sweet deal on government cars

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has denied claims Malcolm Turnbull allowed him better perks than other ex-PMs, calling reports on his travel allowance “fake news” in angry tweet.

In the same tweet, hinted that taxpayers were in fact getting a good deal from his decision to remain in parliament after being ousted as Liberal leader, noting that he’d cost more if he started drawing his hefty pension entitlement.

The searing tweet was in response to an exclusive article by The Guardian that detailed the entitlements offered to Abbott in his capacity as former prime minister.

The Guardian said it had obtained documents that showed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who usurped Abbott as party leader and prime minister, approved extra travel entitlements for Abbott, including the use of chauffeured cars throughout the Sydney area.

Fake news from @GuardianAus Lucky I've no intention to retire because an exPM out of the parliament would cost the taxpayer more

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) March 20, 2018

In September 2015, following the leadership spill, Abbott requested entitlements for his “official business as a former prime minister”, including unlimited business class flights around Australia, travel allowances for overnight stays away from home and the unlimited use of a Comcar (a car with a chauffeur) for him and his wife. These requests were granted by Turnbull.

With the exception of the Comcar claim, these entitlement are similar to those granted to other former prime ministers, according to government legislation.

It seems Abbott has made the most of the entitlements, claiming $73,200 in domestic flights and $25,936 in other travel expenses while on “official government business” in 2016. According to The Guardian, Abbott’s flight spending equates to the combined flight expenses of former prime ministers’ John Howard, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating over the same period – which is possibly unsurprising given that, unlike the others, he is still a working MP.

But many other politicians have come under fire for what some claim are misuse of the travel expenses system. In February, it was revealed that the Australian taxpayer foots the bill for Julie Bishop’s boyfriend to travel, with the Bishop, who is the  minister for foreign affairs, claimed $32,000 worth of travel for boyfriend David Panton despite the fact she doesn’t officially recognise him as her spouse.

Soon after this news broke, it was revealed opposition leader Bill Shorten, who is reportedly one of the biggest spenders in Australian politics, left a Comcar waiting in the carpark at last year’s Melbourne Cup while he partied, resulting in a $1,013 fee.

However, Abbott has defended his own spending, saying the public is better off because he is stayed on as a backbencher instead of retiring after he lost the Liberal leadership battle.

This may well be correct. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Abbott is due to receive an annual pension in excess of $300,000 a year. Abbott will also receive extra entitlements, decided by the prime minister at the time of his retirement.

Abbott currently earns $199,040 in his capacity as backbencher.

Do you think Abbott’s entitlements sound reasonable? Do you think politicians receive too much money after they retire?