By CASEY NEILL
A PERISHER Valley ski trip left Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus with egg on his face last week.
It was revealed he’d been hitting the slopes on two nights he’d claimed accommodation in Canberra for parliamentary business in August 2011.
Mr Drefus had been vigorously prosecuting Federal Government MPs over improper parliamentary travel claims before the embarrassing revelation.
But a spokeswoman said Mr Dreyfus hadn’t realised he’d incorrectly claimed the $466 allowance.
“The claim was an administrative error,” she said.
“Mr Dreyfus’s electorate office staff were not aware he had left Canberra for those two nights, and drafted a travel claim for the entire period between his flights to and from Canberra.
“Mr Dreyfus is sorry for the mistake and is repaying the $466.”
Voters returned the former Labor Government Attorney-General to the seat he’s held since 2007 at the 7 September Federal election.
Many of his ALP colleagues were not so lucky. He told the Journal the result was bittersweet.
“But I remain a member of parliament and I’m still engaged in national politics full time,” he said.
“I think I’ll be able to spend more time in the electorate than I was able to as a cabinet minister, and that’s a good thing.
“I’ll be able to visit more schools more frequently and go to more community events.”
Mr Dreyfus said he’d still be able to effectively represent his constituents from the opposition benches by raising matters with state and local government and with federal ministers.
“My view is that governments need to govern for all Australians,” he said.
“If there’s a need in my community, I expect the government to meet that need whether it be a Liberal government or a Labor government.
“Government should approach community needs and funding issues on the basis of what the needs are.”
Mr Dreyfus said people had regularly raised with him the ALP’s leadership issues as a major reason for the party’s defeat.
“People were pleased with very many of the major policy reforms that we’ve introduced over the past six years,” he said.
He listed the national broadband network, the national disability insurance scheme, funding for schools and economic management among the party’s achievements.
He’s confident the party can leave behind its leadership dramas and bounce back.
“I think there’s a lesson that’s been learned by all of my colleagues,” he said.
