FORMER premier Joan Kirner has hit out over a decision not to grant her a public pension.
The Sunday Herald Sun has revealed Victoria's former premiers ran up a $484,000 taxpayer bill for offices, calls, taxis and assistants from the end of November in 2005 to last December.
The paper also reported that the four surviving former premiers received a $120,000-a-year pension.
But Ms Kirner said she did not receive a special pension as she had been in Parliament for 12 years, not the 14 then required to qualify for the pension.
"That hurt," she said.
Ms Kirner said she was forced to rely on speaking engagements, her job as Victorian Communities Ambassador and her teacher husband's income.
"But that's life, and I can still lead an active public life working with the community," she said.
Half a million on costs for her per year - not bad.
