Teacher Considers Becoming An MP So She Can Recoup The Thousands Of Dollars She's Spent On Stationary

EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact

A teacher who has spent thousands of dollars on classroom stationary is now wondering if she’s made the wrong career choice, after learning politicians can ‘technically’ get away with going on lavish trips with their family on the taxpayer’s dime.

Having tried and failed multiple times to get reimbursed for the endless array of supplies needed to keep her classroom going, public school teacher Maya Phipps says she was shocked to learn that apparently her taxes go towards politicians treating their family to business class flights and luxury accommodation.

This comes as recent news showed the Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, expensed over $100,000 on a New York Trip to attend the UN general assembly, where she spoke about Australia’s upcoming under 16s social media ban.

Reports also show that Wells’ family also went on a skiing trip to Thredbo in June using taxpayer-funded family reunion entitlements while the minister was there for an official event. 

According to parliamentary rules, MPs are able to charge taxpayers for their spouses and children to fly with them on business as part of the “family reunion” travel rules.  Expenses can include flights, accommodation, and chauffeur services.

Wells is not the first politician to take advantage of these rules, with government minister Don Farrell recently coming under fire for charging taxpayers $9,000 over three years for his family’s travel costs.

There was also the famous case of ‘Choppergate’, which saw Bronwyn Bishop use taxpayer money over $5000 to charter a helicopter flight to a Liberal fundraiser party. 

According to The Guardian, family reunion travel expenses have cost taxpayers $600,000 last quarter alone.

Though it is clearly taking the piss, parliamentarians are allowed to claim these expenses if the ‘dominant purpose of the trip is parliamentary business.’

Expenses that are a real kick in the teeth to working people like Maya, who can't even get reimbursed $5 for a packet of pencils.

"Gosh, I really picked the wrong profession didn't I?" laughs Maya, albeit, a bit sadly, "they must work really hard to deserve all of that."

More to come.