Senator Andrew Murray
Democrats Senator for Western Australia
Australian Democrats spokesperson for Accountability
| Dated: 24 February 2004
Portfolio: Accountability
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Dear John and Mark - Thanks for the back-flip on super, now do a double somersault on the Life Gold Pass
| The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have at last accepted the validity of the Australian Democrats’ long campaign for parliamentary superannuation to reflect community standards.
The Democrats say that it is time they did the same with the unacceptable rort that is the Life Gold Pass.
In a Senate motion which will be voted on 2 March 2004, Democrats’ Accountability spokesperson, Senator Andrew Murray will move:
that the Senate believes that:
(a) in light of the Government’s revised approach to Parliamentary superannuation arrangements, that the Life Gold Pass retirement benefit should also be immediately reviewed;
(b) acknowledges that the Senate’s decision not to accept the Australian Democrats amendment to the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Bill 2002 to “ensure that a member of Parliament, other than a Prime Minister, who first commences his or her term as a member of Parliament in the next Parliament will not be entitled to hold a Life Gold Pass”, was not in line with accepted community standards; and
(c) requests the Government to discontinue the Life Gold Pass retirement perk for retired politicians, with the exception of retired Prime Ministers.
“We are giving the Coalition and Labor Party notice well in advance of our intention,” said Senator Murray.
“The Gold Pass slaps an unwarranted $2 million cost on taxpayers.
“The Democrats have campaigned long and hard to put an end to these excessively generous retirement perks and entitlements for parliamentarians*.
“Each time, the Coalition and Labor have united to block these changes.
“They’ve suddenly done a back-flip on super and we are delighted! Now we want them to do a double somersault on the Life Gold Pass.
“We are calling for unequivocal Coalition and Labor support for the Democrats’ motion to abolish the ‘Life Gold Pass’,” concluded Senator Murray.
*A copy of the Democrats’ Minority Report on the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Bill 2002 is available upon request. Or at http://www.andrewmurray.democrats.org.au/documents/187/goldpass.pdf
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