By Darryl Mason
Ex-Australian Rupert Murdoch has a message for welfare-soakers, like our ex-prime ministers, including his old mate John Howard :
(We should be) working for a society where citizens are not dependent on the government. That means ending subsidies for people who do well...Too bloody right.
While a safety net is warranted for those in genuine need, we must avoid institutionalising idleness. The bludger should not be our national icon.
John Howard is now clocking up over $8500 per week in 'expenses', beaten only by fellow ex-Liberal prime minister, Malcolm Fraser. And that's on top of their super-super and pensions which total beyond $400,000 a year.
Some of the items and luxuries you can claim as 'expenses' when you're a living Australian ex-prime minister :
$5000 worth of newspapers and magazines, per year.
$700 to hire indoor plants.
$3000 a week for rental of office space.
$4000 a week for office staff.
$1000 a week for mobile phones.
Naturally, Howard does not want to talk publicly about this awesome display of professional welfare-soaking.
