Further to Sinclair’s post, a further question to ask is whether these trips by Tim Mathieson were classed as ‘official travel’ and hence the air fares and accommodation paid by the taxpayer. Note this extract from the Department of Finance and Deregulation’s Ministers’ Entitlements Summary:
Note that it states
The term official purposes has not been defined for this entitlement.
Which would mean that if the Prime Minister (or her office) defined these trips as official, Mathieson would receive the travel allowance and free flights. They could argue he was representing the Prime Minister at these events.
UPDATE
SM sent me this photo of two cute pigs named Julia and Tim – I’m not sure which is which.
Does view that he was representing the PM include the part where he tried to black ball the opposition leader from attending the same events?
Token
11 Mar 13 at 7:30 pm
I would class Tim Sassoon’s attempts at getting as far away from “Er Indoors” as possible being more a cry for help rather than an official purpose.
Splatacrobat
11 Mar 13 at 7:30 pm
You can be sure Venal Baboon’s snout is in the trough as deep as it goes…
ar
11 Mar 13 at 7:44 pm
A shame that the latest tropical cyclone Tim hadn’t arrived in time for these revelations. The cartoonists’ loss no doubt.
Cold-Hands
11 Mar 13 at 8:48 pm
Good question.
Or do the “unaccompanied” trips speak of a deeper malaise at the Lodge?
Leigh Lowe
11 Mar 13 at 10:47 pm
That’s my bet Leigh. Vidal’s rant at Abbott is akin to a cuckold husband who see’s a rival fucking over his wife. She will be gone in September along with Tim’s caboose attached to the gravy train.
Splatacrobat
11 Mar 13 at 11:57 pm
I heard a report that Tim had run over Gillard in his car.
Turns out I had an attack of Rudd ear-wax and mis-heard. He ran over a bollard.
Imagine my disappointment
Leigh Lowe
12 Mar 13 at 11:30 am