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Australian politician shines light on public waste
Oct 20, 2010, 0:05 GMT
Sydney - How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?
None, Australians were told Wednesday, because health and safety regulations require a qualified electrician to do the job.
They learned this from an exchange in Parliament when Senator Eric Abetz asked the Finance Department's Jan Mason whether it was a waste of taxpayers' money to ban parliamentarians from a task they regularly accomplished at home.
'Senator, it's standard practice that there are occupational health and safety considerations that come into play with things like changing light bulbs,' Mason said. 'It usually involves standing on a ladder or some other device to get to the ceiling.'
Abetz responded that those who needed help changing a light bulb were not fit to be members of parliament.
'It's bureaucracy gone mad,' Abetz said. 'It's a waste of money and the minister should intervene to stop it.'
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