MP disappointed that FREE TIBET not political junket
Federal government MP James McAvery said he felt misled the political lobby group Free Tibet, were interested in autonomy for their nation and not a group offering all-expenses trips to Asia.
Figures out this week show that one in four federal MPs have accepted free overseas travel worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from foreign governments, private companies and lobby groups in the 16 months since the last election.
Politicians from all parties have taken 109 trips overseas, often going business or first class, with the most popular country being China.
McAvery said that “it’s so common, we refer to it as going on a ‘Chinese Junket’ “. He added “a number of politicians have been disappointed that Free Tibet is not a junket but a political organisation, something really should be done about the ethics of this”.
Professor Albert Winston, of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Democracy predicts that change will occur. He says “we need to have clarity and transparency in the names of our lobby groups. A name like Free Tibet is just too confusing.” Dr Winston say he considers “politicians travel to be important for Australia. The MPs are racking up more frequent flyer points than Hell’s Angels on their way to a bikie beat-down.”
