http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-05/m ... y/10328066Liberal politician Stuart Robert spent almost $17,000 of taxpayers' money on "personalised letterhead stationery" during the final weeks of the financial year, more than five times the typical spend for an MP.
Expense records show the Member for Fadden bought 210,000 items on June 12 — 10 weeks before he was named Assistant Treasurer.
His $16,880 bill was more than any other MP during the first half of 2018.
Mr Robert's purchases were revealed in information released by the parliamentary expenses watchdog, which was set up by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in response to Bronwyn Bishop's 'Choppergate' scandal in 2014.
At the time, Mr Turnbull said politicians must be accountable for their use of taxpayer dollars, and expenses "should only be spent for the purpose of doing our job and we must be accountable".
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority last week released a massive data dump of every expense claimed in the first six months of this year.
The machine-readable data makes it easier and faster to identify and analyse specific claims such as internet bills and stationery.
The revelation of Mr Robert's stationery spending came after the Sydney Morning Herald reported he had been billing taxpayers $90 per day for the internet at his home.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had already asked the Special Minister of State Alex Hawke to look into Mr Robert's internet bill.
Mr Robert's office described his stationery bill as "normal" compared to other MPs and said the high bill reflected the need to comply with recent changes made by the Electoral Commission.
Stationery is provided for under the printing and communications entitlement, which totalled about $15 million for all MPs in the first half of the year — almost a quarter of all expenditure.
The annual office budget, from which printing and communications costs can be drawn, is about $110,000 for senators and about double that for House of Representatives MPs.
Aside from Roberts $90 per day home internet bill. Who could possibly spend that much? He spent $17,000 on stationary. $15 million of taxpayer money for MP's printing and communications 'entitlements' for just 6 months?
Robert's electorate in QLD has what? 100,000 constituents? $17,000 for stationary?
Our politicians would have to be at the very bottom of the barrel for all 1st world countries. They should not be 'entitled' to anything until they start to serve those who pay their way.
This being for both major parties as they are both as bad as each other.