Comments by "John Woodrow" (@johnwoodrow8769) on "Albanese claimed travel allowance to stay in own apartment" video.

The reason this wan't brought up at the National Press Club lunch is because there is absolutely nothing wrong with what Anthony Albanese is doing. He (like every other federal, state, and local government employees in Australia) is entitled to a living away allowance when they have to work in another city to where they permanently reside. That allowance is a set amount (depending on someone job position), and it is 100% up to the employee where they stay and what type of food they buy. They can sleep in their car and eat nothing during their stay in Canberra, and the full allowance paid to them is still appropriate and correct. Just because Anthony has decided he doesn't want to stay in a hotel and eat restaurant food constantly, and instead has purchased his own unit, there is NOTHING inappropriate with him being paid the prescribed living away from home allowance.
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@jeanabercrombie5065 Why is it ethically or morally wrong? Try going to Canberra mid week when parliament is sitting, stay in a decent hotel and purchase 3 healthy meal a day. See how much change you get from $290. You'll have about enough to purchase a schooner at a local pub.
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Go stay in a quality hotel in Canberra, and eat 3 proper health meals a day ..... and see how much change you have left over from $291. The answer is probably not enough to even buy a beer. You ask how many other government workers would like (gets) that sum ..... every federal/state and local government employee in Australia that has to stay somewhere other than their permanent home.
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@samcash6131 Ok, you think its perfectly fine for politicians from out of town to have to pay their own way completely when they travel to Canberra. Australia truly is a third world banana republic in your eyes. And please spare me the stupid logic that Albo's unit costs him nothing. If I was a life-time career politician like Albo I'd also buy a unit to stay in when in Canberra, rather than living semi-permanently in a hotel and be forced to eat unhealthy commercially prepared food constantly. And I'd happily take the prescribed travel allowance without a second thought as there is NO issue from either an ethical or legal perspective. NONE! P.S. The current pension system for politicians is IDENTICAL to the superannuation system enjoyed by every other working Australian. IDENTICAL!
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Utter crap reporting. EVERY Federal public servant is paid a set daily allowance to cover accommodation and food when they are required to work away from home. The amount paid will depend on their 'level' within the public service. They can choose to stay in a more expensive hotel and eat 5 star than the set allowance covers, and they are out of pocket for the difference to the allowance. Alternatively they can choose to stay cheap, eat at McDonalds, or even stay with friends (sleep in their car if they want) and pocket all or some of the allowance. Many do this. What the Federal politicians are doing is EXACTLY this, consistent with EVERY other public servant. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with what Albo is doing, NOTHING! This story is just gutter 'journalism'. You really think Sharri Markson pays her own food/accommodation if she has to travel for work? Usual private business practice is to reimburse that actual cost, its not how the public service works. It uses set allowances.
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The only thing in this story is reconfirmation that Sharri Markson is a lightweight political hack, and there is no shortage of people not smart enough that she can suck in with this total BS beat up. The living away from home allowance paid to Anthony Albanese while he is in Canberra (and any place other than Sydney) is perfectly correct and appropriate. It's the system used to compensate ALL public servants in Australia when they have to travel for work. They are paid a prescribed allowance, regardless of where they actually choose to stay or what they eat.
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