Tuckey Is Past His Use-by Date With Some Other Libs > Kerry-anne Walsh

Sun Herald

Sunday March 9, 2008

Kerry-Anne Walsh

WHO would have thought that the sartorially challenged "gentleman" of the bush, federal MP Wilson Tuckey, could get a gig sailing the high seas entertaining cruise ship cocktail-sippers with robust tales about life in Parliament.

What a mind-boggling visual image.

Anyone who has witnessed Federal Parliament will attest that Tuckey, West Australian farmer and one-time publican who earned the dubious nickname "ironbar" for his treatment of a recalcitrant Aboriginal patron, is no public speaker.

When a minister in 2003, Tuckey's inability to separate his personal life from the ethics of his parliamentary duties found him caught red-handed trying - on an official letterhead - to monster the South Australian police minister into commuting to a warning a traffic fine incurred by Tuckey's son.

Ever since, Tuckey's sat grumpily on the Liberal back bench. Following the last election the 28-year parliamentary veteran has become little more than a space thief, hogging a seat in Parliament that could go to a young, bright, eager Liberal MP.

Tuckey embodies the personnel problems bedevilling - or rather, dragging down into oblivion - the leadership of poor Brendan Nelson.

Tuckey's hung around past his use-by date. He's taking liberties that the taxpayer wouldn't appreciate. Look at Nelson's team and there are many similar on one or both counts.

Tuckey's lack of political relevance hasn't stopped him from being seen as attractive to the private sector. It's how he got the ludicrous, jaw-dropping cruise ship gig, even though the thought of him lecturing on anything approaching parliamentary morality or the political structure is gobsmacking.

But such is the power of federal MPs - their contacts, networks and influence - that even Tuckey has pulling power.

In many ways it's the system's fault as much as Tuckey's. MPs appear to be able to do almost what they like while drawing a Commonwealth wage.

Kevin Rudd wants to return squeaky-clean to the Federal Parliament. He is nutting out rules defining appropriate behaviour between Government MPs and lobbyists. While he's at it, he might like to cast his eye over rules governing what MPs are allowed to do while receiving a salary from the public purse.

There are those now on the Government benches, the Prime Minister included, who have had international missions paid for by an entity other than the Commonwealth while still receiving a Commonwealth salary.

Quite why this should be allowed is a mystery. The potential for a conflict of interest would appear to be considerable. Private sector companies don't foot the bill for MPs' international travel and expect nothing in return at some stage. It's an investment for them.

No constituents want to force out their sitting MP, no matter how long he or she has been in Parliament, if he or she is representing their interests well.

It's the new departure lounge breed of politicians who are the worry. They are the ones, rapidly multiplying on the Liberal backbench, who no longer give a fig about Parliament and are road testing a post-political commercial career on the taxpayer's dollar while waiting for their new lives to take off. No wage-earner in the real world would be given such latitude. Why should they?

kwalsh@sunherald.com.au

© 2008 Sun Herald

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