A push is underway to penalise MP'S who decide to leave State Parliament before their term is up.
The recent departure of a number of state Labor MPs after weeks of turmoil in state parliament has prompted opposition leader Barry O’Farrell to put forward a new policy.
The so called ‘dummy spit tax’ would see any MP who exits politics before their time is up, lose half of their superannuation for the first year.
The high profile MPs – Reba Meagher, John Watkins and Morris Iemma bowing out before the next pole – Mr O’Farrell has told 2GB’s Ray Hadley it would see them all penalised up to $70,000.
“I’m sure Reba Meagher didn’t consult the Labor party, we know she didn’t consult her premier when she decided to exit,” O’Farrell said.
“I just think that people like that ought to have a dummy spitting tax – a tax that will actually ensure that they’ll at least have reason to pause, and think whether in the circumstances they want to go, or whether they’re better off staying around for the next two and a half years, doing what people elected them to do just a year and a half ago.”
He says MPs shouldn’t be able to abandon their consistence before extensive by-elections, unless there is a legitimate reason behind their departure.
