FoI in Australia: MPs fuel discontent over petrol consumption

FoI in Australia: MPs fuel discontent over petrol consumption

Citizens of Victoria, Australia, who are battling record petrol prices have had to pay $570,000 in a year to cover politicians' fuel costs.

As the price of petrol broke the $1.50 a litre barrier this week, the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that state MPs' fuel bills have more than doubled in the past decade.

In a further blow to motorists this long weekend, it has also emerged that more than 1000 petrol pumps across Victoria are faulty. Extensive bowser testing by Consumer Affairs Victoria last financial year found three per cent of pumps assessed across the state were faulty -- giving more or less petrol or LPG than motorists paid for.

CAV tested more than 9700 of the 36,000 pumps operating in Victoria in 2006/07. Over the same period, the petrol bill for Victoria's state MPs hit a record $568,588 -- for 461,037 litres -- according to documents released under Freedom of Information laws. That compares with $390,000 in 2003-04 and $280,000 a decade ago.

Our petrol guzzling MPs (Herald Sun, 22 March 2008)