South Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi tells TV program her $200,000 salary is ‘not a lot of money’

Liberal senator Lucy Gichuhi is feeling the heat this week after a video clip has emerged of her telling a Kenyan TV host her $200,000 salary ‘was not a lot of money.’

The South Australian Senator appeared on Jeff Koinange Live, a popular Kenyan talk back show, in January.

She was asked by Mr Koinange how much her salary was and if it was public knowledge.

 

Liberal senator Lucy Gichuhi (pictured) said on Kenyan TV her $200,000 salary is not a lot

‘Yes, my salary it is somewhere on the website, I don’t look at it because it comes into the bank, but it’s not a lot of money by the way,’ she said.   

‘Politicians, and I mean Australian politicians, work so hard 24/7, nobody, and I mean no body can compensate them for the work they do.’

When pressed again by Mr Koinange about how much money she receives, teh senator replied:’$200,000 Australian dollars, in a whole year, that’s not a lot of money.’

Mr Koinange compared the figure against how much Kenyan politicians. 

‘It’s a reasonable pay,’ Ms Gichuhil then admitted.

The video was revealed at a difficult time for the senator, who is struggling to fight off criticism after it was revealed that the Australian tax payers footed the bill for two family members to be flown from Darwin to celebrate her birthday.

She has since said it was an administrative error involving misunderstanding of travel rules and will be paying the money back.      

She has said the travel expenses were an administrative error and she will pay the department back 

She has said the travel expenses were an administrative error and she will pay the department back 

Lucy Gichuhi has since agreed to repay the full amount and will pay an ­additional 25 per cent penalty

Lucy Gichuhi has since agreed to repay the full amount and will pay an ­additional 25 per cent penalty

Senator Lucy Gichuhi (pictured right) billed taxpayers to fly two family members to Adelaide for her '50th birthday plus GST'

Senator Lucy Gichuhi (pictured right) billed taxpayers to fly two family members to Adelaide for her ’50th birthday plus GST’

The 56-year-old senator held a ’50th birthday plus GST’ in Adelaide last October.

She billed the tax payers $2,139 for two return airfares from Darwin to Adelaide as part of her ‘family traveller’ allowance.

The ‘family traveller’ allowance is a fund that can be used to pay for family members to visit politicians on ‘­parliamentary, electorate or official business’. 

However, the rules state that the entitlement is provided to allow senators and members the chance to balance their work and family responsibilities.

Ms Gichuhi has since agreed to repay the full amount and will pay an ­additional 25 per cent penalty.  

‘Regarding the media reports about my travel expenses, this was an administrative error involving misunderstanding of travel rules. I’ve raised an invoice from the department to pay the costs of $2139 in full,’ the senator tweeted on Sunday. 

The new senator was initially elected following a recount after the High Court booted Family First’s Bob Day but recently defected to the Liberal party.  

Senator Lucy Gichuhi, pictured with former prime minister John Howard, joined the Liberals earlier this year

Senator Lucy Gichuhi, pictured with former prime minister John Howard, joined the Liberals earlier this year

According to parliamentary travel records Senator Gichuhi has also billed taxpayers $4,400 for five nights she spent in Sydney in August.

She spoke at the National Australia Bank’s African Australian Inclusion Program, met former Prime Minister John Howard and community radio leaders. The tab also included flights for a family member.

In November, she charged taxpayers more than $2,000 for one night in Sydney, where she was joined by her husband to speak at the African Professionals in Australia Gala Dinner.

'Fifty is the Biblical year of Jubilee, of freedom from oppression and debt, of healing the land, of rest and of new beginnings,' Lucy Gichuhi, 56,  (pictured) told guests at her birthday party

‘Fifty is the Biblical year of Jubilee, of freedom from oppression and debt, of healing the land, of rest and of new beginnings,’ Lucy Gichuhi, 56,  (pictured) told guests at her birthday party

And she has claimed almost $4,000 for two one-night trips to Sydney where she attended an international event held by Christian radio station Hope 103.2 and appeared on the ABC’s Q&A program. Senators and MPs commonly charge travel costs to appear on the program to the taxpayer.

Under the entitlement rules, MPs and senators can claim travel expenses if they are facilitating and participating in debate, discussion, a meeting, event or function or undertaking research relating to matters of importance or interest to constituents.

A spokesman for Senator Gichuhi told the Daily Telegraph the office was confident that all of the travel was in line with the rules.

Senator Gichuhi is about to enter a tough contest to defend her place in the senate. 

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk