Crikey alerts us to this story in the Daily Telegraph.
BOB Carr has embarrassed his former State Government colleagues by racking up a new record of $438,683 for expenses billed by a retired premier.
The huge cost to NSW taxpayers of keeping Mr Carr in his first year of retirement includes a $4287 bill for unspecified “books and periodicals”.
Nevertheless, this morning his successor Morris Iemma defended the spree.
The bills were incurred while Mr Carr took on a controversial new job as an adviser with Macquarie Bank, an appointment rumoured to be worth $500,000 a year.
The itemised costs do not include his indexed pension, rumoured to be about $130,000 a year.
Then there’s another ex-ALP Leader in NSW – who was markedly less successful.
The standout exception is Barrie Unsworth, who costs taxpayers not one cent and chooses to use public transport at his own expense. . .
It is understood Mr Unsworth has made a principled decision not to submit claims despite his eligibility to do so.
A spokesman for Mr Iemma confirmed that Mr Unsworth did not lodge any claims, even refusing a vehicle.
“As far as I know, he lives on the Northern Beaches and catches Forest Coachlines to work with other commuters,” the spokesman said.
“I think he’s just an all-round good bloke and does not want to charge anything to taxpayers.”
Mr Unsworth’s jobs in retirement include chairman of State Transit.
John Fahey is also a low cost former premier.
His bills in 2005-06 came to just $27,912.
If Bob Carr is only spending around $80 a week on books and periodicals he’s not up to much. I thought he was NSW’s “reader”
They also report that the extremely wealthy Nick Greiner lodged claims of $393,183 and the equally cashed-up Neville Wran, $367,994.
I think Unsworth is a masochist, albeit a rather dull one. If the state government
“acknowledged” my service by sticking me on the Railcorp Board, I’d be hanging out for a cabcharge at least.
they should ONLY get these perks IF they have retired.
They should not get anything if they are working!
Carr was a really unattractive type in the end wasn’t he – look what a bucket of poo he made of NSW, and accepting that Macquarie position was atrocious.