Lawmaking contributes to progress and thus should be seen as fundamentally noble. Politicians' privileged role is a position of public trust.

Their duty to be honest and altruistic is amplified by the fact that they deal exclusively with taxpayers' funds. And indeed many of our elected representatives are decent and hardworking champions of their communities. Yet survey after survey reveals politicians are viewed with disdain. In recent days we've seen, yet again, why.

A caucus meeting? Credit:Getty Images

The resignation of Sussan Ley from the role of federal health minister over an expenses controversy is but the latest in a lamentably long list of gormless and arrogant abuse of trust. It reflects an ugly, unacceptable sense of entitlement across the entire Parliament.

One of the most egregious recent cases, for example, was that of Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who shamefully supported Chinese positions after receiving direct payments from Chinese business interests.