Joyce’s $1,248 taxi ride

Stephen Joyce has spent $1,248 keeping a taxi waiting for him in Sydney for nine hours.  His excuse was that he saved money by not staying in a hotel and using a crown limo would have cost a similar amount.  The excess spend could have kept him in a reasonable hotel for days.

From the Herald:

The returns showed Mr Joyce also racked up a taxi fare of $1248 during a visit to Australia in November after keeping the meter running for nine hours.

A spokeswoman said Mr Joyce had a full day of engagements while in Sydney for a job fair and he saved money by making a day trip to Australia and not staying in a hotel.

His office pointed out that if he had used a Crown limo for the same length of time it would have cost a similar amount.

This is insane.  Every time I go to Sydney I marvel at the number of taxis.  They are everywhere.  To keep one waiting for him all day on the country’s visa card is crazy in the extreme and suggests a level of born to ruleitis that needs urgent treatment.

The Taxpayer’s union has suggested that the expense should be repaid by Joyce personally.  I could not agree more.

Update: Brook Sabin says it well …

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