MP seeks seat on gravy train

Kim Waters
A GEELONG MP wants to deny councillors a medal for long service while he tries to board the parliamentary pension gravy train, according to a councillor.
Stretch Kontelj called Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield “hypocritical” for attacking Cr Kontelj’s push to establish the medal for councillors who serve 12 years.
Cr Kontelj said Mr Crutchfield was desperate to retain his seat at the November 27 state election to qualify for the Victorian parliamentary pension.
A report earlier this year said Mr Crutchfield would miss out on the pension by three days if he failed to win. His indexed pension would start around $65,000 a year tax-free for serving the minium eight years as an MP.
In last week’s Independent Mr Crutchfield labelled Cr Kontelj’s medal bid “staggering self interest” and “unwarranted”.
“At the forthcoming election Michael Crutchfield will be begging Geelong residents to re-elect him so he becomes eligible for a lifelong taxpayer funded pension after only serving eight years as a parliamentary backbencher,” Cr Kontelj said.
“Yet Michael believes that a national service award for councillors who have completed at least 12 years consecutive service is unwarranted, outrageous and self-serving.”
Cr Kontelj cast doubt on whether Mr Crutchfield deserved such a large pension after only eight years.
“Michael no doubt considers that his efforts and modest length of parliamentary service entitle him to the lifetime largesse at taxpayer’s expense,” Cr Kontelj said.
“However, many in the community would not agree with his inflated self-assessment of his contribution. Perhaps rather than put his hand out for a lifelong taxpayer funded pension, Michael should be satisfied with the nine per cent employer superannuation contribution all other working Australians have to make do with.”
Cr Kontelj defended his proposal, saying the medal would recognise many former councillors for their community service.
Recipients would include former Geelong councillors such as Ian Stacey, Gerry Smith, Jim Fidge and Kevin Kirby who provided over 100 years of combined civic service, he said.
“Michael Crutchfield considers this unwarranted and self serving but in his own case believes he should receive a lifelong taxpayer funded pension after only serving eight years,” Cr Kontelj said.
Mr Crutchfield provided a one-line statement in response to Cr Kontelj.
“Unlike Stretch, I won’t be changing anything to suit my own personal benefits”.