Murray McCully National MP for Albany

19 December 2001

Parliament vehicle checks cost $31,000 a week

Taxpayers are being 'ripped off' by additional police and security costs of over $31,000 per week at Parliament following the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to National MP Murray McCully.

Mr McCully today released an answer to a Parliamentary question from the Minister of Police which lists costs totalling $283,019 (or $318,486 including GST) for the period from September 20 to December 1.

The additional security measures involve vehicle security checks at the front entrance to the Parliamentary grounds.

Mr McCully describes the security checks as 'pathetic'.

"Only the dumbest terrorist in the western universe would be apprehended by the additional vehicle checks. The only practical outcome has been large numbers of damp Parliamentarians who exit their taxis at the gate to avoid lengthy and pointless delays, and instead sprint the final 100 yards in the rain.

"At a cool $31,000 per week of taxpayers' money, this has got to be one of the more expensive and most wasteful butt-covering exercises of recent times," Mr McCully said.

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