Minister Turnbull - it's all about the money ...

Excerpt from the Sunday Mail:

Australia's richest politician, Malcolm Turnbull, is using his taxpayer-funded travel allowance to pay $175 a night rent for a Canberra townhouse owned by his wife.

And under allowances for spouses, he claims another $10 a night payment when wife Lucy stays in the $800,000 home, located in the trendy inner Canberra suburb of Griffith, just a stone's throw from Parliament House.

Mrs Turnbull even raised the rent for her husband from $170 to $175 a night in September 2005.

See - Sunday Mail - MP allowance goes to wife.

Minister Turnbull's response:

I'm entitled to it. It's within the rules.

See - SMH - Turnbull defends rent payments to wife.

When is enough enough? Why claim the extra $10 a night for his wife? His arrogance ensures that he fails to recognise the issue of 'perception'. How much more political mileage would he have gained if he didn't claim it? And all it would have cost was $10 a night ...