Dumped MP wins pension
By JEREMY KELLY
21feb03
FORMER shadow treasurer Robert Dean will get a parliamentary pension for
life despite being booted out of politics for failing to properly enrol.
Former colleagues yesterday decided he should receive his pension, believed
to be $55,000 a year.
The Parliamentary Superannuation Fund, comprised of politicians from the
three main parties, had taken legal advice on whether Dr Dean's unique
departure from parliament disqualified him from the pension.
Dr Dean, 50, had spent 10 years in parliament and was entitled to a
CPI-indexed pension if his departure was deemed to be involuntary, such as
for health reasons or losing at an election or party pre-selection.
The super fund is believed to have taken legal advice which was in favour
of Dr Dean - who has returned to the Bar - getting his payouts.
Dr Dean's political career ended embarrassingly during last year's state
election campaign when it was revealed he had failed to enrol to vote. This
meant he was ineligible to stand as a candidate.
Dr Dean's failure to enrol and his nomination as a candidate in the seat of
Gembrook has been referred by the Victorian Electoral Commission to police
for investigation.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6016038%255E2862,00.html
