Rudd outspent Howard on travel

Rudd outspent Howard on travel : "Overall, the nation's parliamentarians received nearly $14 million in travel entitlements - including domestic and overseas airfares, accommodation expenses and car hire - between January 1 and June 30, 2007."

Well, as it turned out, he didn't so the title needs to reflect the information. That aside this article documents clearly the travel of parliamentarians and the costs. It is important we see that and that it is kept in front of us. Australia is a massive country and so I really don't have a problem with our politicians travelling. I think they need to get out and about and see our country and meet its people because each state has a different flavour and different issues and they are our federal politicians. We should know them. We are also in an interesting position globally and it was far too easy for us to isolate and adopt our own agenda. We cannot do that now because we are on a global market and global influences determine what goes on here. So I think the pollies need to get out and learn languages and make contact with other countries and cultures and ensure we have their politicians visit us. We need to stay in the loop. Then we are a multicultural nation whether we are allowed to use the word or not. We are a nation made up of many cultural strains and it is important that our politicians understand the cultures and backgrounds of our citizens. They cannot be effective leaders by sitting isolated in Canberra or the eastern states. They need to get out and about to get an idea of who we are , where we come from and what we are about and they have to know what the world influences and trends are. Travel is the only way to do it and Net friends. The costs will come and we need to identify them and be aware of them...but I see them as justifiable if we want to be global players.