Nurses and carers have demanded changes to the aged care system after it was revealed some elderly Australians are forced to survive on just $6 of food a day.
And while old and frail pensioners have to get by with paltry meals, the nation’s top politicians are free to put $181 of food and accommodation on taxpayer-funded expenses.
The shocking divide in care for our elderly and the perks of being an MP were exposed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, which branded the state of affairs as ‘a crisis that shames us’
‘Our aged care system has been ignored by governments for far too long. Join us to make it better’, reads a post shared to the union’s Facebook page.
Travelling allowance may be paid for meals and incidental costs only up to a limit of $181 per day
Severe understaffing and under regulation of aged care facilities is leaving elderly Australians not properly fed. This is one example of a meal handed to the elderly
Federal politicians can claim up to $181 for meals whereas elderly Australians are fed meals that will barely satisfy their hunger
Under the Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990, Australian politicians’ accommodation and sustenance at official establishments is funded by the taxpayer.
Federal politicians can claim up to $181 for meals and ‘incidentals’, depending on where they live.
‘Where the costs of accommodation are met… travelling allowance may be paid for meals and incidental costs only up to a limit of $181 per day,’ the document states.
Meanwhile, severe understaffing and under regulation of aged care facilities is leaving elderly Australians not properly fed, hydrated or safely given medication, alleged the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
A Bond University study found the average cost of an aged care meal came to $6.08.
‘It’s a crisis that shames us,’ the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has said. ‘Our aged care system has been ignored by governments for far too long. Join us to make it better’, reads a post shared to the union’s Facebook page
Julie Bishop, David Panton and two of his children pose for a picture with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal
David Panton (left) and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop pose for a photo with David’s two daughters Laura (left) and Sally alongside the Melbourne Cup in the Emirates marquee on Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Saturday October 29 in 2016
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd enjoyed tax-payer funded meal allowances
Revelations emerged today that Julie Bishop claimed $32,000 in taxpayer-funded domestic ‘family’ travel for her boyfriend David Panton.
Since 2015, West Australian MP Ms Bishop has claimed the five-figure family travel allowance for her Sydney-based long-term partner Mr Panton.
The allowance lets Mr Panton accompany Ms Bishop on parliamentary, electorate or official business within Australia at the taxpayer’s expense.
Meantime, Mr Panton does not have to disclose his financial interests to Parliament – as wives and husbands of parliamentarians do.
That is reportedly because he is not her ‘spouse’ (they are not married) or ‘de facto’ (they do not live together).
Earlier this month it also emerged that Barnaby Joyce spent over $43,000 of taxpayer funded travel allowances as he and Vikki Campion went on a 2,000km road trip in New South Wales and tropical Queensland while they travelled together for work.
In 2015, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop resigned after a fierce public backlash for spending more than $5,000 on a flight from Melbourne to Geelong, a mere two-hour drive.