Fairbrother Russell: Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee Third Reading 
Fairbrother Russell: Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:634;Page:5895] 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) 
: 
 I have come down to the Chamber to speak having listened to this debate on the radio and wondered whether we are in real land or in some gaga time. If there was any argument against the Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill it could have been laid out point by point rather than our having the abuse the overstatement and the chuckles we are hearing. Examples could have been given of current spending that is uncertain and should be validated. This is why I speak to the title and commencement clauses. 
I ask members to take as an example a member of Parliament who drives around in a truck with his name and the parliamentary crest on it and also a logo and advertising slogan that have nothing to do with parliamentary business. Should that be paid for by the parliamentary budget? Is it advancing policy or is it some form of ongoing electioneering? It seems to me that use of that truck parked prominently at an airport with no doubt the parking costs being paid for by the Government as well comes outside the parliamentary vote. I am very sure that members who have trucks with advertising slogans on them parked in airport car-parks at parliamentary expense—the slogans are not advocating policy but are promoting the members; they are politicking—will be glad that this bill goes through and validates expenditure back to the last election. Because if it does not there is further trouble afoot and further uncertainty. 
That uncertainty will go through to Christmas because members of Parliament who continue to run businesses will put out advertising circulars for their businesses with their names prominently displayed in a way that overlaps their political advertising. Of course we would not encourage that because one should not profit from one’s actions as a member of Parliament. But when one appears prominently on a phone book cover in relation to one’s business activity with one’s “MP” sign alongside one’s name on a similar advertising slogan in a similar place the confusion is very easy. The confusion is now profound because no one knows where the cut-off point is. [ 
Interruption 
] Listen to the brays! We have to have some clarity; otherwise we could again have Lockwood Smith disporting his body for the world to see on his Christmas card or his calendar. I do not know what the point is in displaying the body perfect of Lockwood Smith on his calendar or Christmas card but I am sure that if he had a photograph taken of himself with his logo on his chest and put it on his calendar then it would be approved. At least his chest would carry something of merit. 
Anyway I support this bill. I support the title of the bill. I support its immediate commencement so that we will all know where we stand and will spend our money legitimately—not confusing our political activities with our business activities not trying to rip off the public by spending money illegitimately to make private profit. If we are going to spend parliamentary money let us have clear rules let us know where we stand and let those rules start tomorrow. I support the bill.