APPLES and oranges.
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The fruity comparison by member for Riverina Michael McCormack has been prompted by reports comparing his spending to member for Clare John Cobb.
Fairfax Media reported last week Mr Cobb spent more taxpayer dollars than Mr McCormack last year, despite having a smaller electorate.
Mr Cobb used $350,625, considerably more than the Riverina MP's spend of $228,491.
In a statement to the Western Advocate, Mr Cobb said he often travelled interstate and across NSW to meet with industry groups as part of his previous role as shadow minister for agriculture and food security.
Mr Cobb declined to be interviewed about the specifics of what taxpayers paid for in 2013, but said in the statement he undertook his role as a member and opposition spokesperson within parliamentary entitlements.
Those comments were supported by Mr McCormack, who said the role required a lot of travelling.
He said it was more difficult for a country member to be a minister than their metropolitan counterparts and Mr Cobb's ministerial position was the spending difference.
"It's comparing apples and oranges," Mr McCormack said.
"I don't think people fully understand or appreciate how big these electorates are."
Mr McCormack said it was important members were present in the communities they represent.
He had travelled to Mangoplah and Ladysmith when spoken to by The Daily Advertiser on Saturday afternoon and had commitments in Coolamon later that night.
Mr McCormack said Mr Cobb used COMCar services more frequently than he did.
"I tend to drive myself to a lot of places," he said.
"With everything I do I'm mindful of the fact we are using taxpayer dollars."
Mr Cobb came under fire for the $181,571 he spent on administrative costs to run his two electorate offices in Bathurst and Orange.
The figure was $87,986 more than what it cost to run Mr McCormack's Wagga and Griffith offices.
In comparison, it cost Prime Minister Tony Abbott $208,631 in administrative costs for the same period.
with the Western Advocate
