Could Joe double dip?

Rumour has it Joe Hockey is up for the seat of US Ambassador as a reward for his hard work over the last two years in Government, but Independent Nick Xenophon has come right out and said what others are thinking today… Don’t double dip Jo!

In fact, he’s urging Mr Hockey to rule out taking his salary as ambassador and drawing on his parliamentary pension too, in effect ending the age of entitlement for the man who made it is tagline.

“I just want to help Joe Hockey fulfil his dream of ending the age of entitlement by Joe Hockey setting an example for the rest of us,” he is reported to have said by the ABC.

“What Joe Hockey can do is to refuse to accept his parliamentary pension in addition to getting $330,000 a year as ambassador.”

Senator Xenophon says he will push for changes to the rules if Mr Hockey drew from his pension while in the role, setting expectations firmly for the Federal Treasurer who spent much of his term trying to take funding from those doing it tough.

The ABC reports he could be allowed to earn up to $450,000 per year if he combines his pension with his salary as an ambassador.

Mr Hockey — who is tipped to become Australia’s ambassador in Washington — would apparently earn $360,000 per year as ambassador.

Under the guidelines established in 2010, Mr Hockey would also be allowed to receive up to 50 per cent of his parliamentary pension if he takes on a diplomatic posting, which would see him receive up to an additional $90,000 a year.

“I just want to help Joe Hockey fulfil his dream of ending the age of entitlement by Joe Hockey setting an example for the rest of us,” he said.

“What Joe Hockey can do is to refuse to accept his parliamentary pension in addition to getting $330,000 a year as ambassador.”

“I will be putting up legislation in the Senate that will say that if an ex-politician who’s getting a parliamentary pension is offered a diplomatic post, then they can’t get any of that pension during that time of the diplomatic post.”

Have your say today… Want to see Joe battle under the same circumstances as other Australians or are you happy to see him enjoy the fruits of his hard work?  Do you think the public should have a say when so many other politicians have gone before him?