FED: ALP to pursue PM, Ellison, over new travel rorts row

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
FED: ALP to pursue PM, Ellison, over new travel rorts row

CANBERRA, Feb 15 AAP - The federal opposition will pursue Prime Minister John Howard and
Special Minister of State Chris Ellison when parliament resumes today over the latest travel
rorts saga to engulf the federal government.

Senator Ellison is to pay the government $9,000 for unauthorised flights taken by Liberal
Party members on planes he chartered between 1993 and 1996.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday vehemently denied Senator Ellison had done anything
wrong, and rejected comparisons with the 1997 affair that claimed three of his ministers.

"I think Ellison is being super correct, super proper and super respectful of the
taxpayer," Mr Howard told the Ten Network's Meet the Press.

"There is absolutely no question of his resigning, he has done nothing wrong, he hasn't got
anything, he didn't lie, he didn't involve the taxpayer in any additional expense."

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley admitted it was too soon to demand Senator Ellison's
resignation, but has rejected Mr Howard's assurances.

"Clearly they thought something was wrong, otherwise why bother paying it back?" Mr Beazley
told reporters.

"Mr Ellison says out of the goodness of his heart he's repaying $9,000. Mr Ellison says the
commonwealth is not owed that money. Well, why pay it if it's not owed?"

Mr Beazley said the opposition would demand to know of Mr Howard's involvement in the
affair, and would also be pursuing Arts Minister Peter McGauran over new travel claims.

Mr McGauran was one of the three to resign in 1997, but has since been reinstated to the
front bench.

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KEYWORD: RORTS DAYLEAD

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