LOCAL federal MPs have distanced themselves from comments made last week by Treasurer Joe Hockey about the driving habits of Australia's "poorest people".
While discussing the impact of a rise in the fuel excise, Mr Hockey said, "the poorest people either don't have cars or actually don't drive very far in many cases".
The comments, for which Mr Hockey has since apologised, led to outrage and suggestions the federal Treasurer was out of touch with ordinary Australians.
Member for Forde Bert van Manen told the Times that on hearing the comments, he phoned the Treasurer to express his concerns over the statement.
"I do think while it was a plain reality of what the ABS figures say, it wasn't an accurate reflection of the realities of our local communities," Mr van Manen said.
"A lot of (local) people travel into the city for work, there is not the public transport infrastructure here that can allow them to rely on it, they've got no choice but to drive."
Wright MP Scott Buchholz said while he would not have chosen the same words as Mr Hockey he wanted the community to keep in sight the purpose of the fuel excise.
"One of the difficulties Joe has, is dealing with a terrible, terrible budget situation that we have inherited from the previous government," Mr Buchholz said.
"Being a regional seat I am fully aware of the cost involved in travel, whether it be for work, whether it be to access services or attending sporting functions on the weekend for children.
"It's a broad based excise, I know that it is an enormous amount of money for some families, in some cases it's nearly a whole carton of beer missing.
"But I want no one to lose sight of why that excise is on the table because we are spending more than we earn as a nation, the trajectory of debt is critical."
In a street survey conducted by the Times, all participants asked said they thought Mr Hockey's comments were out of touch with reality.
Holly Wilson of Cedar Grove said not only were his comments "disgraceful and ignorant" they did not factor in that a lot of people were forced to reduce their driving because of the increasing expense to run a car, not because they did not need to drive.
Matthew Churchill of Jimboomba said people living in rural areas, no matter their income, were forced to drive because public transport was often not available.
"I am between jobs at the moment which means I have to travel for interviews, I have to use my car because there is no bus or train which can take me there," he said.
"I think he (Mr Hockey) has no idea what it is like for most people."
The fuel excise rise is expected to cost families an extra $40 a year, based on a once a week fill up of 80 litres.
