When it comes to gifts received, our ACT politicians appear to be exceedingly conscientious in their declarations.
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Labor MLA for Ginninderra Yvette Berry even declared a gift of three chickens.
Ms Berry noted in her statement of registrable interests that she had received the eight-week-old chicks (‘‘hand-reared, mixed breed’’) as a gift and they were each worth about $20.
She said the declaration was made about the time when federal politicians were copping the heat for dubious travel claims and she thought she’d better declare the chickens. Phew.
And just for the record the chickens are called Orange (that would be the orange one), Wendy (after US Democrat Senator Wendy Davis who staged a 11-hour filibuster to protect abortion rights in Texas) and Rosa (after civil rights activist Rosa Parks).
The other ACT politicians declared gifts from theatre tickets to sporting tickets to upgraded flights.
Not surprisingly, as Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher had a long list of gifts, from books to four dozen eggs (from the Royal National Agricultural Society) to a Romanian traditional costume.
Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr also received a Dunhill scarf from Singapore multinational ComfortDelGro, Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne declared earthenware cups and saucers she received from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia, while Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury received a ‘‘commemorative golden picture, Hu Guo En Buddhist Temple $150’’.