Pubdate: Sun, 04 Dec 2005
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Author: Alex Mitchell

INDEPENDENTS' SQUEAKY-CLEAN IMAGE TARNISHED

Today's Sun-Herald revelations about the business activities of 
Pittwater's newly elected MP Alex McTaggart will inflict devastating 
damage on the squeaky-clean image of Parliament's independent MPs.

Only days after standing on the front steps of Parliament in 
Macquarie Street and declaring themselves "The Magnificent Seven", 
the independents will be calculating the public's reaction to 
McTaggart's hitherto unknown business life.

The independents' movement has gathered electoral strength precisely 
because it attracted men and women of high principle who rejected the 
grubby political machinations of the major parties to serve as 
community feelgood do-gooders. There was North Sydney MP Ted Mack who 
has almost become the patron saint of NSW independents.

He quit Macquarie Street after serving six years, 11 months and 29 
days - only one day short of seven years - just so he could avoid 
receiving the over-generous, taxpayer-subsidised MPs' pension.

Then there was South Coast MP John Hatton, the indefatigable crime 
fighter who virtually single-handedly forced the 1990s royal 
commission into police corruption.

Two other star independents were Tony Windsor, who quit the lower 
house seat of Tamworth to enter Federal Parliament in 2001 as the MP 
for New England, and Dr Peter Macdonald, MP for Manly, who is now 
Manly's mayor. The McTaggart disclosures may also force some 
back-tracking by Premier Morris Iemma and his ministers, who warmly 
welcomed the Avalon surfie after his victory in the seat previously 
held by opposition leader John Brogden.

In their delight at the humiliation of Liberal candidate Paul 
Nicolaou - who suffered a 25 per cent swing against him - and the 
collateral damage to Liberal leader Peter Debnam, they embraced the 
new crossbencher more enthusiastically than was prudent.

McTaggart will be sworn in on February 28 when Parliament resumes 
after a 12-week break. But he began receiving his $110,650-a-year 
salary from November 26, the day of his byelection victory.

At present, McTaggart receives $12,925 as a councillor on Pittwater 
Council, plus an extra $28,215 for being mayor. He has indicated that 
he will step down as mayor in the new year in favour of his deputy, 
Christian Democrat Patricia Giles, but will remain a councillor while 
he serves in Macquarie Street.

He will also receive an electoral allowance of $35,570 to staff his 
Pittwater office and a logistical allowance to buy a computer, 
printer, phone and fax equipment.

He has been allocated Room 917 on the ninth level of State 
Parliament, where his neighbours will be Clover Moore, the Bligh 
independent and Sydney Lord Mayor, and Shooters Party MP John Tingle.

McTaggart's swearing-in next February was billed a triumph for the 
independents and a kick in the guts for the Liberals. Now it might 
simply become a giant embarrassment.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman