Canberra Liberals MLAs notch up $11000 bill for media training course - The Canberra Times

Media training for Canberra Liberal MLAs cost the taxpayer more than $11,000 last year, new entitlement reports show.

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson, deputy Alistair Coe and five other MLAs completed a day-long ''Mastering 21st Century Media'' training course with the Sydney-based Reputation Australia on July 5 last year. The total cost for travel, accommodation and training reached $11,251.80.

The figures, contained in the latest report on ACT parliamentarians' travel for the Office of the Legislative Assembly, show Mr Coe and spokeswoman for women Giulia Jones flew to Sydney on July 4.

Most members of the group drove from Canberra and returned on Saturday, July 6.

Speaker Vicki Dunne travelled to the course from the Presiding Officers and Clerks conference at Government House and began personal leave after its completion.

Treasury spokesman Brendan Smyth was accompanied by his wife for the trip, while Mr Hanson and Ms Jones were both accompanied by staff who also did the training.

Mr Hanson's expenses reached $2392.16, which included training for his chief-of-staff and a media adviser.

The reporting requirements ask MLAs for conclusions or recommendations on the activity.

Spokesman for youth and indigenous affairs Andrew Wall said the course had included skills development and presentation advice, as well as practice interviews.

"The course was beneficial to me in my capacity as an MLA," he said in the report.

Education spokesman and assistant speaker Steve Doszpot said the training had been valuable for MLAs and staff who attended.

Reputation Australia managing director Steve Cropper describes himself as ''one of the pioneers of media training in Australia in the late 1980s''.

The former television and radio reporter's CV includes Channel Nine, 2UE and the ABC.

Participants are advised on developing powerful messages to achieve media ''cut-through'', to deliver messages effectively for news reports, how to handle difficult issues and how to stay calm under pressure.

In August, Mr Wall and Mr Doszpot both travelled to Brisbane for meetings with Queensland government ministers and education and disability service providers.