Dad's campaign for MPs to fund family trip raises more than $3,000

A father of three has already raised more than $3,000 through a crowd-funding campaign, asking politicians to pay for a family holiday to Uluru.

(GoFundMe.com) Source: (GoFundMe.com)

A father of three has set up a crowd-funding campaign hoping federal politicians will help fund his family holiday to Uluru.

Stephen Callaghan, of Blue Haven in New South Wales, wrote an open letter to MPs after being outraged to learn some fly their children around the country on taxpayers' money.

"Dear Federal MPs ... It has come to my attention that many of you have been using tax payers' money to fly your children around on various holidays, fireworks visits, excursion and overseas vacations.

“I would appreciate it greatly if you were able to donate to my Go Fund Me campaign so MY kids can go on a holiday too.”

Mr Callaghan said he would not accept donations from “everyday Australians” because they had already forked out enough.

“They have already paid too much for YOUR kids ... all I ask is that, in the words of our great Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, my children get a ‘fair go’.

(GoFundMe.com) Source: GoFundMe.com

“Please consider being a Lifter (not a Leaner) and lifting my kids aboard a plane or a train (or even a cruise ship, if you give generously) by sharing the perks YOU get with 3 ordinary Australian kiddies.”

Steve said that like many busy politicians, his wife worked away from home all week for 40 weeks of the year but, like many ordinary Australians, they did not have access to taxpayer-funded travel.

"They don't understand the sacrifices we make to do these things...I drank zero beer on the weekend. That was pretty hard."

So far the site has raised more than $3,000 of Steve's $5,000 target, but he says the family will still go even if the target is not reached, and said either way he planned to donate most of the money to charity.

"We are not going business class, business class is for leaners. We’re going the traditional Australian way. By V8!" he said.

Mr Callaghan said the response to the crowdfunding campaign had been touching.

"I didn't do it to get money from people, but to get money and attention from politicians. 

"Pensioners saying here's five dollars to buy the kids an ice cream at Uluru - it's really humbling."