South Australia's Social Inclusion Commissioner
Monsignor David Cappo has spent more than $100,000 of taxpayers' money
on international trips in four years, said a report on the AdelaideNow website.
Monsignor Cappo, 61,
appointed by Premier Mike Rann to help the state's most disadvantaged
people, has been on eight trips to the US, Europe and Singapore, in his
role, between 2006 and 2010.
The itineraries for two other trips to the US - budgeted to cost
taxpayers $40,000 - were approved by the Department of the Premier and
Cabinet but the trips were not taken by Monsignor Cappo, the report
said.
He always goes business class on international flights, irrespective
of the distance travelled, with the cost of the flights accounting for
the majority of the Social Inclusion Commissioner's travel expenses, the
report said.
Monsignor Cappo defended his international travel, saying he had paid for the majority of his work-related expenses.
Monsignor Cappo - who is also paid $115,000 a year for his part-time
role as commissioner - paid the cost of most of his accommodation and
living expenses.
Opposition families and communities spokeswoman Vickie Chapman, who
obtained the travel information via a FoI request, said the Government
had lost its moral compass.
The Opposition criticised the cost of Monsignor Cappo's travel to
taxpayers as extravagant, given the State Government had "increased
utility prices, slashed jobs and delayed hospital upgrades".