The Book Of Letters: Peter Breen

THE BOOK OF LETTERS - HOW TO WRITE A LETTER FOR EVERY OCCASION - NOT A CRIME?

Peter Breen denied claims that he overworked his secretary Adriana Sammartano, who previously told the inquiry she was heavily involved in typing Mr Breen's, The Book of Letters.

He denied that work on the book took up to 80 per cent of Ms Sammartano's time because "I know how fast she types".

Mr Breen's day in the witness box began with a warning he may face contempt charges for comments he made about ICAC.

Before his evidence he held a press conference labelling the ICAC investigation "ridiculous" and "a waste of time and money".

"I haven't seen such a load of rubbish since Marrickville Council closed Tempe tip," Mr Breen said.

But Peter Breen MLC is not the only person calling the ICAC a bad dog that's just doing Premier Bob Carr's dirty laundry.

Peter Breen answering allegations that he inappropriately claimed up to $130,000 in travel and parliamentary allowances, he said: "They're motels that happen to have resort in their names.

"There isn't anything fancy about them. These places are mostly old. They're not anything flash, I can assure you."

To the tastes of NSW Independent MP Peter Breen, they are "not anything flash".

Mr Breen was giving evidence to ICAC yesterday about his stays at resorts along the North Coast - including the Sails Resort at Port Macquarie, the Nautilus Resort at Coffs Harbour and the Sir Francis Drake Resort in the Hunter

But forget about the stars I'll give Peter Breen's story ***** 5 stars for honesty.

The Reform the Legal System MP said he often spent one or two nights a week at the Lismore property he claims is his principal residence despite his week-long booking at the Byron Bay Beach Resort.

Asked by counsel assisting the commission, Chris Ronalds, if he had proof, Mr Breen said: "Only by someone looking at the bed the next day and saying no one slept there."

Mr Breen told the inquiry the accommodation at the Byron Bay resort was far from glamorous.

"They're cabins in the bush - one-room cabins. To suggest I am exploiting parliament's resources is ridiculous," he said.

He said, " making the 45-minute drive back to the Lismore property depended on *how tired* I was, whether I'd been *drinking*, whether there was anything more *interesting* in Byron Bay and what was *happening the next day*."

All very plausible I might add. By the way where do other elected members stay when they don't make it home? The outhouse?

Mr Breen said his practice of claiming payments for nights spent in transit from Sydney to Lismore was legitimate.

He denied that he chose to stay only at "4-star luxury" resorts.

Mr Breen continues giving evidence today.

Peter Breen has a lot of community support and we are aware that he has come under attack from Bob Carr, his cronies, and the corporate media for helping unpopular prisoners declare their innocents, that's not fair.

By LILLIAN STAR 13 July 04

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ED: At Bi Low you you don't pay any overheads like, police wages. 10 cups of coffee + a four hour interview? Less $7 total = $553.00, but if you have sore feet? These thongs were made for walking.

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