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CANBERRA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Four in five Australians believe corruption is an issue within federal politics, the results of a poll showed on Saturday.
A total of 82 percent of respondents called for an anti-corruption watchdog to oversee MPs' expenses.
Following revelations last week of widespread abuse of politicians' entitlements, in which a number of MPs billed taxpayers for travel allowances outside of official business, the public has shown its displeasure at being "taken for a ride" by those who serve in Canberra.
Conducted on Thursday during the ongoing scandal, the survey by the Australia Institute posed the question to more than 2, 200 Australians: "Do you think there is corruption in federal politics?"
More than 85 percent of Australians responded with "yes", 55.2 percent said the problem was rampant while 30.1 percent said there was "a little" corruption in federal politics. Just fewer than 7 percent of respondents said "no".
Meanwhile 82.3 percent of Australians said they would support the establishment of an anti-corruption watchdog in Canberra to oversee the use of taxpayer money.
The Australia Institute's Richard Denniss told Fairfax Media on Saturday that Australians were "sick" of seeing their money being used to prop up MPs' lifestyles while the government continues to lament a "budget black hole".
"The Australian public are sick of the spectacle of politicians seemingly stuck in a cycle of rort, resignation, review, and repeat; the revolving door of minister and lobbyist, and lax political donations disclosure laws," Denniss said.
"If a federal anti-corruption watchdog was in place politicians might think twice before charging the taxpayer for a trip to a sports event, a New Years' Eve party or a house hunt. It's not just bad for the taxpayer, it's bad for our democracy."
Denniss said the poll, alongside an open letter, would be forwarded to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Enditem
