FEDERAL Labor politicians have claimed thousands of dollars in travel entitlements in recent years to speak at Bathurst’s Light on the Hill dinner – a major party fundraiser.
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Serving MPs including Senator Penny Wong and Labor leader Bill Shorten are among those to have claimed travel and accommodation expenses after accepting the invitation to speak at Light on the Hill, while Anthony Albanese will be the speaker at this year’s event on Saturday, September 19.
The Western Advocate conducted a search of the speakers’ travel claims in light of the ongoing furore over Speaker Bronwyn Bishop’s use of a helicopter to fly between Melbourne and Geelong for a Liberal Party fundraiser in 2014.
Figures from the Department of Finance show that on September 22, 2012, Mr Shorten claimed a travel allowance of $354 for a visit to Bathurst on official business.
He also claimed for domestic airfares worth $870.54 between Melbourne and Sydney on September 22 – the day he gave the address – and from Sydney back to Melbourne a day later.
Last year Senator Penny Wong made the journey to Bathurst on September 20 to present the Light on the Hill address. The following morning she paid a visit to the Chifley Home.
Senator Wong claimed a travel allowance of $360 for official business in Bathurst on September 20. A domestic airfare claim was also made for a flight between Adelaide and Sydney on September 20 for $774.38.
However, Country Labor Bathurst branch president Dr Miranda Gott defended the claims, saying no one was paid to present the Light on the Hill address.
“Members of Parliament have a travel allowance and they pay for their expenses out of that,” Dr Gott said. She added that the Bathurst branch helped out with travel expenses for speakers who were not MPs, such as 2013 guest speaker Father Frank Brennan.
When asked whether it was appropriate to claim travel allowance to speak at a party fundraiser, Dr Gott said she was not in a position to say – that was a matter for the MP, not the Bathurst branch.
However, Dr Gott said the Light on the Hill dinner was established to memorialise former prime minister Ben Chifley, a great son of Bathurst.
She added the annual dinner also showcased Bathurst because many people outside the region were now associating the city with the Light on the Hill address.
“[But] it is also a fundraiser and showcase for Country Labor,” Dr Gott said.
“Branch members nominate who they would like to see give the address and we invite them.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been knocked back. It’s a good showcase for the MPs.
“Many people we invite recognise the importance of promoting Labor in the country,” Dr Gott added.
This year will mark the 31st Light on the Hill Dinner.
Dr Gott said Mr Albanese was sure to be a great speaker and was very popular with Labor’s rank and file.
“He is very strong on the ordinary things Labor members feel very strongly about such as affordable education and a fair and reasonable immigration policy,” she said.
“He is a great speaker who is enormously witty and charismatic, much in the same way Bob Hawke was engaging.
“He must be popular – they have named a beer after him.”
