Dear Editor,
With regard to the budget debate, much is being made of the burden faced by the poor, the working class and the pensioners, among other downtrodden people, and their neglect in the budget presentation. While everyone from the opposition is calling for more funds for the poorer classes of society, and I am all supportive of these calls, not one politician from the government or the opposition has suggested any financial sacrifice on his or her part to go towards those classes. I would like to suggest that MPs forego their salary every other month and that these funds be used to boost pensions beyond what is proposed in the budget. In addition, I am suggesting that the duty free concessions for MPs and others (like chairs of regional bodies, etc) be suspended and that the funds accrued from the taxes also be used to raise pensions.
MPs are entitled to duty free vehicles which are worth around $5M. This can potentially total a whopping $300M per annum. This, plus the forgoing of salaries by MPs every other month, would boost pensions to $20K (and higher) a month. If the MPs are truly caring of the working classes and the poor as they say, now is their time to step up and make some sacrifices.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
