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It’s that time in the federal political cycle when voyeurs get to sticky beak at the Commonwealth Register of Members’ Interests which lists the properties, shares, trusts and business interests of every Senator and Member of the House of Representatives. The Point has analysed the holdings of the 151 MPs in the House of Reps to highlight the growing divide between the poor and the privileged in Australian society.
By Harry Mulholland and Jackie Pearson
Meet Teresa. At the age of 53 she was forced to apply for unemployment benefits, called JobSeeker, and live on less than $50 a day. Now meet Michelle. She has an extensive share portfolio, four investment properties and an art collection. She too is receiving income from the Commonwealth but she is an elected Member of the House of Representatives.
At a time when the cost of living is on the rise and wage growth is flat, it seems that the gap between our elected leaders and those they represent is widening. Whilst MPs and Senators are required to disclose their property, investment and business interests, it is difficult to determine whether or not those ‘interests’ influence how they conduct themselves in parliament and in their local electorates. There is clearly a risk that conflicts of interest may arise. Why else would we need a public register?
Who cares what politicians own, you might ask? Fair enough. We live in a free, first-world country and there are no limits on what we can earn or own. However, there is currently a distinct lack of political will, even from a Labor Government, to lift those receiving welfare out of the poverty trap they are currently expected to survive in.
The Federal Government increased the JobSeeker payment by $1.80 per day from September 20, in line with inflation, but still well below the poverty line at only 42 per cent of the minimum wage. The government said 4.7 million Australians received this boost to their social security payments to help ease cost of living pressures.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the Albanese Government had announced the largest indexation increase to payments in more than 30 years for allowances, and 12 years for pensions.
“We want to ensure Australia has a strong social security safety net to protect our most disadvantaged,” the Minister said. “Our guiding principles as a government are ensuring no one is left behind, and no one is held back and this indexation increase will help those on Government payments keep up with the cost of living,” Rishworth said.
The Aged Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Pay will rise by $38.90 a fortnight for singles, and $58.80 a fortnight for couples. The maximum rate of pension will increase to $1026.50 a fortnight for singles and $773.80 for each member of a pensioner couple, or $1,547.60 per couple.
Parenting Payments, ABSTUDY and Rent Assistance increased but the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), the national advocate for action to reduce poverty and inequality, said the increase doesn’t even cover the cost of a loaf of bread.
ACOSS Acting CEO, Edwina MacDonald, said the Council regularly speaks with people who cannot eat three meals a day, cannot afford essential medication and are in debt with their utility provider as they cannot cover the cost of energy.
“While the extra $1.80 a day will help, JobSeeker Payment remains grossly inadequate to cover essentials. Youth Allowance, the unemployment and student payment for young people, is just $38 a day and won’t be indexed until January. Young people will somehow have to cope with skyrocketing cost of living on a payment that doesn’t cover average rents let alone anything else.”
Indexation of JobSeeker happens twice a year in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the 20 September rise reflects the CPI increases from December to June 2022.
“It does not deliver a real increase, an increase above inflation, and that is what people on JobSeeker and other payments need to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table. The Federal Government must urgently increase JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related payments in the October budget to address the acute crisis facing people on the lowest incomes.
“Jobseeker and related payments must be at least $70 a day so that everyone can cover the basics,” MacDonald said.
Sharing a similar sentiment is the Brotherhood of St Lawrence’s Acting Executive Director, Lucia Boxelaar, who said, “Without an adequate social security system, too many Australians will continue to live in poverty, and it is these people who will be exposed to the worst impacts of current and future crises, including economic shock and climate-induced disasters.
“Whilst welcome, one-off payments do very little to address this, now or in the long term. We know there is great willingness in the community to support those who are doing it tough. The Federal Government needs to invest in a more equal and resilient Australia for all of us.
“Many of these jobseekers are mature aged, living with disability or have additional barriers to finding employment. Rather than blaming and punishing individuals, the Federal Government needs to invest in the social infrastructure and meaningful, tailored employment support that people need to find work. And, of course, investment in adequate income support is needed for those who cannot work or can’t get enough work to make ends meet,” Boxelaar said.
JobSeeker recipient Teresa from Queensland told ACOSS’s Raise the Rate for Good Campaign lifting income support needs to be addressed.
“During the time that our last government was in power, I was in the unfortunate position of needing to access help from Centrelink. The entire process at the worst took two years despite getting 25 points across the table, I was unable to access the disability support pension as I could not complete 18 months with a job provider because I was too ill to do so.
“Obviously the system is designed to make you fail. I was left on JobSeeker for that entire time, after a lifetime of ill health and yet still working and still paying tax, until finally at the age of 53 I had to ask for assistance. The entire process was nothing short of adversarial and punitive to the point now where I break out in a sweat every time I have had to deal with either Centrelink or a job provider.
“The only time during these years that I was not freaked out about money was when the Liberal Government doubled the amount of JobSeeker and for the first time in a long time, I could afford to survive and catch up a bit. Keeping people who are too ill to work in an abject state of poverty is in zero way productive, nor does it encourage them to suddenly spontaneously heal and get back into the workforce.
“Believe me, I have been self-employed since I was 28 so if I could, I would. Absolutely everybody knows that the current rate of JobSeeker is totally inadequate to live on and as such, that level of poverty prevents you from being able to find a job even if you’re well enough to, especially if you are in a rural area,” Teresa said.
Meanwhile in the nation’s capital
While almost five million Australians, like Teresa, are living well below the poverty line, our Federal MPs, while being paid by the taxpayer, are able to accumulate substantial assets and earn income from their business, investment and property interests while they serve in parliament.
The recently-released Register of Members’ Interests is a database of all Australian Federal politicians’ investments, trusts, businesses and real estate holdings accessible to the public to show how the personal financial situation of MPs and Senators may affect their voting patterns.
The register shows that many federal politicians are just like regular Australians with a mortgaged home and some basic assets like cars and other equipment. One MP even declared her saxophone. Some, however, have extensive investment portfolios tied up with family and business trusts, and substantial collections of investment properties.
The Point has used the crude measure of the number of assets to rank MPs and it may be that those with fewer assets have portfolios worth more than those with a greater number of assets. This may particularly be the case when farms are considered. However, this article is an attempt to illustrate the volume of property and other interests held by our ‘local members’.
For example, 38 of the 151 MPs in the House of Representatives, and 76 Senators, own properties in and around Canberra but they can still claim a $299 a night allowance for time spent in Canberra even if they stay in a home they own.
The Point has examined the interests of those in the House of Representatives to garner a picture of how well our pollies are doing while they are serving their constituents. Remember these personal interests are on top of the wages, superannuation and allowances they receive for their service. The Pointis not suggesting that any of the MPs named in this article have been or will be prone to conflicts of interest and we acknowledge that many MPs are dedicated and hard-working.
This examination of Members’ Interests does, however, demonstrate the polarisation of Australian society and the deepening divide between those in our parliament and those they serve. Is it time to review some parliamentary benefits given that Australia has around five million people living well below the poverty line and given that policies like negative gearing drastically benefit landlords but do very little to assist those suffering through a rental and affordable housing crisis?
Sitting pretty
The real estate market in Australia was boiling hot in 2021. Prices have now tapered off and rising interest rates are stretching households who took on debt at the top of the market. The nation’s preoccupation with bricks and mortar is not likely to fade any time soon and that is why we’ve ranked our politicians by their property holdings. We have included properties owned jointly with a spouse/partner or outright by a spouse/partner.
At the top of the real estate tree in the House of Representatives is a rather elite collection of MPs who own five or more properties, including their homes. We’ve put 15 MPs in this top tier. The breakdown of party representation is nine Liberal-Nationals, two independents and four Labor MPs. Some use trusts as ownership structures making it difficult to assess the definitive number of properties owned.
Here are some examples of the holdings of this privileged group of MPs according to the interests they’ve registered. Liberal Member for Forrest, Nola Marino, is the registered director for dairy and beef company Kimlie Pty Ltd with her partner. Together they own their home and four farms in Harvey WA, as well as two more farms in Myalup WA.
Liberal Member for McPherson and former Morrison Minister, Karen Andrews, has an extensive property portfolio with one primary residence in Clear Island Waters QLD and six investment properties in Mudgeeraba QLD, Palm Beach QLD, Clear Island Waters QLD, Ayr QLD, Deniliquin NSW and Kalgoorlie WA.
Andrews is also listed as a director for Andrews and Andrews Consulting, and lists artwork, motor vehicles and an Australian Super account as assets valued at over $7,500. She received income from these investments along with sponsored travel through a membership with the Virgin Australia Club and the Qantas Chairmans Club.
Nationals Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, owns five cattle grazing properties in Taroom QLD and Wandoan QLD. He has shares in five companies including Everest Earthmoving, Emerald Resources, Far Ltd and CE & TS Boyce. He is listed as a director of CE & TS Boyce Family Trust and Everest Earthmoving and Boyce also listed Santos Radio Tower as a source of income on his interests.
Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz, is another politician with a stacked property portfolio, with Buchholz owning a primary residence in Dugandan QLD, a second residence in Barton ACT, two investment properties in Blackwater QLD and an investment property shared with his spouse in Woolloongabba QLD.
Buchholz is also listed as a director and shareholder of GD & SB Pty Ltd and receives money from investments in cattle production partnerships.
The other Coalition MPs in this category are: Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce; Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan; Member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace; Member for Dawson, Andrew Wilcox; and Member for O’Connor, Rick Wilson.
Labor Minister and Member for Watson, Tony Burke, has a property portfolio with his primary residence in Punchbowl NSW, and a secondary residence in Belconnen ACT. Burke has income-paying investment properties shared with his spouse in Meander Valley TAS, Port Phillip VIC, Sorell TAS and Huon Valley TAS.
Labor Member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, owns her home at Cumberland Park SA, and investment properties in Kensington Park SA, Glynde SA and Crafters SA all shared with her partner. Miller-Frost also has an investment property in McCracken SA and has investments in Whitefield Limited, Resmed Inc, Coles and Eagers Automotive Limited.
Labor Member for Gorton, Brendan O’Connor, owns his home in Keilor VIC, and has an investment property in Fitzroy VIC and a holiday home in Lorne VIC. His partner also owns farms in Euroa VIC, Longwood VIC and Creightons Creek VIC.
Labor Member for Makin, Tony Zappia, owns shares in Woolworths, South 32, BHP, Endeavour Group and Woodside Energy as part of his self-managed superannuation fund. He and his spouse own their home and an investment property in Pooraka SA, along with investment properties in Ingle Farm SA, Moana SA and St Kilda SA.
One of the only two independents to make it to this category was ‘teal’ Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender. She has an investment portfolio with shares in telecommunications, multiple family trusts, and telecommunications companies. Spender owns her home in Darling Point NSW, and an estate asset in Woolhara NSW. She jointly owns two investment properties in Great Mackerel Beach NSW with her partner, and her partner owns an investment property in Cambridgeshire UK.
The independent Member for Mackellar, Sophie Scamps, also makes it to the top of the tree. She has an investment portfolio as part of her and her partner’s self-managed superannuation fund with shares in various private equity funds. She owns their family home in Avalon Beach NSW, and an investment property in Kentish TAS. With her partner, they own a farm in Wee Jasper NSW, and an investment property in Terrey Hills NSW and Woollongabba QLD.
Lower in the canopy
Cabinet Minister and Labor Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, sits a little below the House of Representatives’ landed elite with a total of four properties. She jointly owns her home in Rosebery NSW, an investment property in Caringbah NSW and another investment property in Ljubljana, Slovenia with her spouse. Plibersek also owns a second residence in Kingston ACT.
Plibersek lists that she manages the charitable trust Jessie Street and receives royalties from publications which are donated to The Wayside Chapel and The Exodus Foundation.
Another prominent Labor woman tucked just under the federal parliament’s landed elite is Labor Member for Barton and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Linda Burney, who owns three properties including her primary residence in Marrickville NSW, an investment property in Marrickville and another investment property in Barton ACT. Burney also owns half of a property in Whitton NSW, which she acquired through an inheritance.
As well as having four properties listed as residential/investment, Labor’s Member for Higgins, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, has an extensive share portfolio jointly held with her partner including shares in ANZ, BHP, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, as well as shares in various mineral and financial companies. She has a beneficial interest in a discretionary trust linked to her spouse’s business and she lists a collection of paintings.
The other Labor MPs we’ve categorised as owning four properties were: Member for Oxley, Milton Dick; Member for Isaacs, Mark Dreyfus; Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas; Member for Brand, Madeleine King; Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson; and Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou.
In addition to the nine Labor MPs who have interests in four properties, we’ve counted seven Coalition MPs. Liberal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent, is registered as a director for BL & BM Broadbent Drapers and has shares in Commonwealth Bank and Telstra. He has a home in Pakenham VIC, and a recreational property in Palm Cove QLD. His spouse has a home in Phillip Island VIC, and an investment property in Warragul VIC.
Nationals Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, has shareholdings in two companies, AXXA and Optiscan, and has two homes and two investment properties. Chester’s primary home is in Lakes Entrance VIC, and he owns 50 per cent of a home in Kingston ACT, as well as an investment property in Lakes Entrance VIC and Ivanhoe VIC.
Nationals Member for Lyne, David Gillispie, has investments in many companies including telecommunications, banks, supermarkets and other corporations as part of his self-managed superfund. Gillispie also owns four properties including a residence in Griffith ACT, a residential and commercial property in Port Macquarie NSW, a farm in Sancrox NSW and a residence in Randwick NSW.
Liberal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, is listed as a potential beneficiary in a family trust, and he owns his home in Mount Gambier SA, and a farm in OB Flat SA. He shares another home with his partner in Adelaide SA, and his partner owns an investment property in Largs Bay SA.
National Party Member for Hinkler, Keith Pitt, runs a self-managed superannuation fund with his partner, and together they own their home in Bundagerg QLD, an investment property in Kingston ACT, and another investment property in Brisbane QLD. Pitt’s partner also owns a home in Woodgate QLD.
Liberal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, has an investment portfolio with shares in Yowie Ltd, Southern Cross Payment Ltd, Rural Funds Group and Betashares S&P 500. She shares her homes in Marmion WA, Geraldton WA and an investment property in Geraldton WA with her partner. Price also has a residence in Kingston ACT.
Liberal Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, has an investment portfolio with shares in banks, energy companies, insurance companies and telecommunications companies. He is also a joint beneficiary along with his partner in a family trust. Ramsey shares his home in Kimba SA, a beach house in Port Neill SA, a private residence in Maylands SA and another private residence in Jamestown SA with his partner.
Third time lucky
The Prime Minister, and his Minister for Social Services, both sit on the next branch down in the property tree with three properties apiece.
Amanda Rishworth’s return shows that her partner has an investment portfolio with shares in banks, investment firms, mining companies, health companies and telecommunications companies. Together they are potential joint beneficiaries for a family trust, and they own an investment property together in Cumberland Park SA. Her partner owns their home in Hallett Cove SA, and Rishworth owns a second home in Griffith ACT.
The 31st Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has two residential properties in Marrickville NSW and Canberra ACT, and a mortgaged investment property in Dulwich Hill.
Next on the list is the Federal Labor Member for Cowan, Anne Aly, who is registered as a former consultant for Sharakat Pty Ltd and has a home in Madeley and two investment properties shared with her partner. Aly receives an income from these investment properties, as well as payments for her authored works and lending rights for books previously authored.
Labor Member for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, has an extensive portfolio of investments including Credit Suisse, Bennelong Australian Equities Fund, Allan Gray Australia Equity Fund, Capital Group New Perspectives Fund, Blackrock, Sands Captial, Goldman Sachs and Vanguard among others. He is a joint beneficiary of a family trust and a joint owner of two business trusts. Charlton has three investment properties across Sydney, with one in Parramatta, Bellevue Hill and Woollahra.
Other Labor MPs who own three properties are Member for Cooper, Geraldine Kearney;
Member for Ballarat, Catherine King; Member for Hasluck, Tania Lawrence; Member for Corio, Richard Marles; Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain; Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland; and Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman.
Members of the Opposition who have three properties are: Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton; Member for Bradfield, Paul Fletcher; Member for Calare, Andrew Gee; Member for Moore, Ian Goodenough; Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton; Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley; Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack; Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien; Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta; and Member for Hughes, Jenny Ware.
Former Deputy Prime Minister, and the Nationals Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, does not list any investments, however his partner has a portfolio with shares in many banks and investment firms. His children also have shares in banks, financial companies, telecommunications companies and agriculture companies. He owns a home in Loomberah NSW and a rural property in Baradine NSW, and his partner owns an investment property in Braddon ACT.
The Member for Ryan, Elizabeth Watson-Brown, is the only Greens MP to make it to any of the top tiers of property investors in the House. She owns shares in Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Wesfarmers and Coles, and she shares her home in St Lucia QLD, and investment properties in Auchhenflower QLD and Hastings Point NSW with her spouse.
One of the two independents on this branch of the real estate tree is Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, who owns his home in South Hobart TAS, and shares a holiday home in Southport TAS with his spouse. Wilkie’s spouse also owns a home in New Town TAS.
The other was the independent Member for Fowler, Dai Le, who is registered as the director of the Dawn Foundation which she has shares in. Her partner is listed as the director of renewable energy marketing company All Energy Group. She has no properties listed, but her partner owns a home in Smithfield NSW, and investment properties in Dulwich Hill NSW and Hurlstone Park NSW.
Plus one
Overall, one third of the MPs sitting in the House of Representatives own three or more investment properties. Many also have interests in trusts, self-managed superannuation and share portfolios. Approximately another third of sitting MPs have their home plus one investment property and this may or may not be in addition to a variety of other declared business interests and investments.
The Opposition MPs who sit at this mid-to-bottom level of the property tree are: Member for Bass, Bridget Archer; Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch; Member for Page, Kevin Hogan; Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth; Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry; Member for Maranoa, David Littleproud; Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar; Member for Hume, Angus Taylor; Member for Aston, Alan Tudge; Member for Mallee, Anne Webster; Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood; and Member for Longman, Terry Young.
The Labor Government Members who have disclosed that they own or share a home plus one other real estate interest are: Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes; Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters; Member for Blaxland, Jason Clare; MP for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon; Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker; Member for Franklin, Julie Collins; Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy; Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot; Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones; Member for Wills, Peter Khalil; Member for Dobell, Emma McBride; Member for McEwen, Robert Mitchell; Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann; Member for Hotham, Clare O’Neil; Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips; Member for Hawke, Sam Rae; Member for Robertson, Gordon Reid; Member for Pearce, Tracey Roberts; Member for Reid, Sally Sitou; Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley; Member for JagaJaga, Kate Thwaites; Member for Gellibrand, Tim Watts; Member for McMahon, Chris Bowen; and Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson.
Worth special mention is that the nation’s youthful Treasurer, Labor Member for Rankin, Jim Chalmers, owns only two properties, a primary residence in Springwood QLD, and an apartment in Forrest ACT. And the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, declares he is a shareholder of Dutton Holdings and PK Super and owns two properties, the first being his farm in Dayboro QLD, and an investment property in Brisbane CBD.
Independent Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, owns her home in Hampton VIC and a holiday house in Separation Creek VIC. She also has shares in her consulting company and receives income from book royalties.
Independent Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has shares with her spouse in Commonwealth Bank, and her spouse has investments in various other banks and financial institutions. Haines also owns a farm in Wangarratta VIC and an investment property in Northcote VIC with her spouse.
Centre Alliance Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie owns her home in Littlehampton SA and an investment property in Central Queensland.
Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall has shares in Zali’s Edge Pty Ltd and Kusatsu Pty Ldt. Her partner has shares in AT Media Pty Ltd and TAZ & Kids Pty Ltd. They are both beneficiaries of a family trust and they share their home in North Balgowlah NSW.
Steggall also has an investment property in Manly NSW.
Independent Member for North Sydney, Kylea Tink has an investment portfolio with shares in energy companies, health companies, telecommunications companies as part of a family trust. Tink also owns her home in Northbridge NSW and shares an investment property in Greenwich NSW with her partner.
Katter gets his own category
Katter’s Australian Party Leader and Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, was very descriptive in his interest form saying he has some interest in cattle operations in the gulf.
“Also, I have close friends and relatives that will benefit directly and indirectly with the creation and opening up of the beef highway into Indonesia and China.
“And mining… nothing definite at this stage but I intend to take up old mining tenements discovered by myself prior to going into Parliament and involve myself in other mining activities, but there are no specifics at this stage,” Katter explained.
Katter also partly owns a rental property in Charter Towers QLD, and sometimes uses as private aircraft during election campaigns.
The landless rabble
Of those not accounted for in any of the ‘landed’ categories above, some of the remaining MPs are homeowners and some have declared even less. The final third of MPs in the lower house have humble investments and interests relative to some of their peers.
Former Prime Minister and the Member for Cook, Scott Morrison, probably fits into this category but may have more assets in his Triginta Superannuation and as a beneficiary of the Morrison Family Trust. He and his wife own their home in Dolans Bay NSW, according to the Register.
Another high-profile MP to declare single property ownership is Greens Leader and Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt.
They are joined by Coalition MPs Angie Bell (who lists her saxophone and says her husband owns the Qld home), Sam Birrell, David Coleman, Andrew Hastie, Alex Hawke, Melissa McIntosh, Llewellyn O’Brien, Henry Pike, Phillip Thompson, Pat Conaghan, Julian Leeser (listed as the director of Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation), Zoe McKenzie, Stuart Robert, Bert van Manen, Aaron Violi and Keith Wolahan.
Labor MPs who are single property owners included: Josh Burns, Mark Butler, Carina Garland, Andrew Giles, Luke Gosling, Julian Hill, Ed Husic, Matthew Keough, Daniel Mulino, Peta Murphy, Alicia Payne, Dan Repacholi, Joanne Ryan, Bill Shorten, David Smith, Matt Thistlewaite, Anika Wells, Cassandra Fernando (who was the only MP to declare ownership of cryptocurrency), Jerome Laxale, Andrew Leigh, Sam Lim, Zaneta Mascarenhas, Brian Mitchell, Graham Perrett, and Marion Scrymgour.
Independents who only showed one property were: Member for Curtin, Kate Chaney; and Member for Kooyong, Monique Ryan.
Then there are the MPs who appear to have next to nothing to declare. Greens Member for Brisbane, Stephen Bates, only shows shares in Apple, and a car as his largest assets with no properties listed. Greens Member for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather showed no major assets on his interests form.
Labor Member for Spence, Matt Burnell, shows nothing on his interests form apart from a membership with Virgin Australia’s Beyond Club. Labor Member for Macarthur, Michael Freelander, is yet to declare his interests.
Labor Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, did have a portfolio of investments in various index funds and an energy company, but since April this year he and his partner have divested this portfolio. Gorman is also listed as a potential beneficiary of the King Family Trust, but he does not personally own any property, as his North Perth home is listed in his partner’s name.
Liberal Member for Sturt, James Stevens has no investments or properties registered in his name.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
It is not surprising that many of our politicians are well-heeled. It requires money to campaign. The political class are also well-educated, and we want them to be that way, which means they have more opportunities to maximise their earnings and investments than those in the community who are not so highly qualified.
They are also the financial beneficiaries of many taxation and investment laws. Those who have shares in particular companies or industry sectors, may also want certain outcomes for those interests. Is it likely, for instance, that an MP with substantial holdings in coal mines will back legislation to decarbonise the economy? Likewise, is it likely that an MP with a portfolio of geared investment properties will vote in favour of reforms to negative gearing?
Those are the sort of biases that can influence the type of law our parliament makes. If you are wealthy you are not likely to vote for higher taxes on the wealthy. We are regularly reminded of the Coalition’s legacy of a Trillion Dollars’ worth of Debt by our two-property-owning Treasurer. Raising more debt would be one way to increase social security payments but that doesn’t appear likely to happen. Another way would be to raise taxes but that doesn’t appear likely in a parliament that consists of two-thirds high-level investors.
Where does your MP sit in the tree? Are they at the top of the canopy or lower down? If the polarisation of our community between privilege and poverty worries you, why not start a discussion with your MP? Write them an email, make an appointment to visit their electoral office and speak with them face-to-face about steps that could be made at a federal level to raise people out of the poverty trap or create public housing.
ACOSS has a campaign called Raise the Rate for Good, which they say is key to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia. Their goal is to fix the social security safety net to keep Australians out of poverty with an income of at least $70 per day.
The campaign recommends indexing payments at least twice a year in line with wage movements, increasing rent assistance by 50 per cent, establishing a single parent supplement that recognises the additional cost of single parenthood, and establishing a Social Security Commission to advise parliament on the ongoing adequacy of income support payments.
Community members looking to support this campaign can sign up on the Raise the Rate for Good’s website. Ask your MP to support the campaign.
WEBSITE LINK- https://raisetherate.org.au/about/
