As the nation enters the pre-election year, the government is using its Senate dominance to give MPs an extra $25,000 printing allowance each (the allowance will rise from $125,000 to $150,000), Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.  
The 86 Coalition MPs will receive $12.9 million printing allowance for the year, and coalition Senators $780,000. Total: $13.68 million.
 
"It's a straight-out raid on taxpayers money to fund sitting members' election campaigns and to disadvantage everyone else," Senator Brown said.
 
The Greens will move to disallow the funding hike.
 
"At 5 cents per printed sheet, the government will have enough to print 258,000,000 pieces of paper – equivalent to 25 pieces of junk mail in every Australian household letterbox," Senator Brown said.
 
Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603