GG 50/11
3 October 2011
Peter Reith is the last person to lecture anyone about probity in public office, Special Minister of State Gary Gray said today.
“For Mr Reith to raise issues about probity is just nonsense,” Mr Gray said. “This is the same person who set such a low standard during his term as a Federal cabinet minister 11 years ago. It’s a disgrace.”
In October 2000 it was revealed that as the Howard Government’s Workplace Relations Minister, Mr Reith racked up a $50,000 bill on his Government-issued Telecard, of which $1000 was racked up by his son in a clear breach of Parliament entitlements.
In the so-called “Telecard affair”, Mr Reith admitted giving his son the card and pin number for use of the phone. He was not disciplined.
Mr Gray, who is responsible for overseeing entitlements, said the major political parties had acted in a bipartisan way earlier this year to pass legislation to allow the Remuneration Tribunal to determine salaries independent of MPs.
Mr Reith’s criticism of that decision “rang hollow”, given his track record.
“The very point of the legislation is to take the issue out of the hands of the likes of Peter Reith,” Mr Gray said.
“He comes from a different age and time when politicians meddled with their entitlements and tarnished the whole system.
“He is a living example of why we need an apolitical approach.”
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