Taxpayers will foot the bill for federal
Liberal MP Michael Johnson’s flight to Sydney to judge the Miss World Australia
competition last night, The Courier-Mail reports today.

Khemlani headed south for the knees-up at
the five-star Wentworth Sofitel Hotel after judging Miss World Queensland in Brisbane last
month.

“Members of parliament have the capacity to
travel for work that fits with their duties as a member of parliament,” the
Courier-Mail kwotes Khemlani as saying.

“Mr Johnson said the trip was a chance to
hold talks with senior businesspeople about bringing the 2008 Miss World contest
to Brisbane,” the report reads.

The opposition, however, begs to differ. Labor
public accountability spokesman Kelvin Thomson says it is difficult to see the
public benefit from Khemlani judging beauty contests.

“I think Mr Johnson has forgotten that politics
is, in fact, show business for ugly people,” he says.

Boom boom!