Why disqualified pollies won’t have to repay their salaries
<p>For months now, Canberra has been rocked by a scandal that’s seen eight MPs and senators stripped of their jobs after failing to disclose (and renounce) their dual citizenships prior to running for office.</p>
<p>As the embarrassing saga continues, many Australians want to know if the affected pollies will be forced to repay their salaries, given they breached the constitution when entering their seats.</p>
<p>The average backbencher’s salary stands at around $200,000 – not to mention entitlements and superannuation – but it seems those caught up in the scandal will not be made to reimburse taxpayers.</p>
<p>The reason why is a little complicated, the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/citizenship-saga:-will-mps-have-to-repay-salaries/9150052" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABC explains</span></strong></a>.</p>
<p>“Back in 1907, the High Court ruled that any votes made on legislation still stand, even after a member is booted from parliament,” writes political reporter Jane Norman.</p>
<p>“So a disqualified member’s service is still recognised. Even though they were not supposed to be there, they were still doing their job."</p>
<p>Despite the disqualified MPs’ combined salaries totalling millions of dollars, in terms of the federal budget ($465 billion), it means very little.</p>
<p>In addition, the Commonwealth argues that the same amount of money would have been spent regardless. “Whoever filled that Lower House seat or Senate spot would have been paid a salary with entitlements and superannuation, so it is basically budget neutral," Norman explains.</p>
<p>Tell us in the comments below, do you think the politicians caught up in the dual citizenship scandal should be made to repay their salaries?</p>
