Pollies revealed to be shamelessly spending our taxpayers’ dollars

It’s that time of year, when the Department of Finance releases the spending of your federal MPs from July to December and already it looks as if another MP expenses scandal is brewing.

So what’s getting people outraged this time around?

The ABC is reporting that three dumped LNP MPs spent $335,000 of taxpayers’ money in a six month period last year on printing.

Yes, that’s right, printing.

The three former MPs from Tasmania, dubbed the three amigos, Andrew Nikolic, Brett Whiteley and Eric Hutchinson, spent more than $100,000 each on printed communications to their constituents.

Break that down, and it comes to more than $500 a day on printing.

But they’re not the only ones.

Labor MP Julie Collins spent $82,000 on printing over the same period.

So what else have your MPs been spending your taxpayer dollars on?

The MPs of Tasmania alone spent $115,000 travelling overseas in the final six months of last year.

It’s not just the MPs.

Senators have also been spending, according to the ABC.

Senator Stephen Parry spent $324,000 fitting-out his office and a further $100,000 running his offices.

He also spent $53,000 travelling with a delegation to the United States.

Another former Senator Richard Colbeck, who lost his seat in the election, spent $8000 taking his family with him while conducting parliamentary duties.

Senator Jacqui Lambie also leaves taxpayers with a bill of $22,000 for car costs.

The expenses from the Tasmanian MPs and senators comes as the Sydney Morning Herald revealed the true cost of Malcolm Turnbull’s ousting of Tony Abbott.

It turns out, Tony Abbott was due to travel to the US for a three-day visit in late September.

But 10 days before he was due to leave, he lost the leadership ballot Malcolm Turnbull and taxpayers lost $60,000 on a trip that nobody ended up taking.

What about Malcolm Turnbull’s expenses?

The ABC is reporting the Prime Minister spent almost $200,000 entertaining guests in his first six months in office, hosting 16 functions.

And who could forget former speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s “choppergate” scandal?

It too makes an appearance in Department of Finance report, alongside two $4000 helicopter flights of Barnaby Joyce’s to a small town just 44km away from one of his ministerial offices or a four hour drive from his home in Tamworth.

He spent a total of $424,000 in six months, including $18,000 on family travel.

On the Labor side, Tanya Plibersek spent $401,000, while Anthony Albanese spent $43,000 on domestic travel fares.

What do you think? Should our MPs learn to live with their means? Or are they entitled to claim the expenses they do?