Green MP's dole experiment over Greens MP Adam Bandt took on the dole challenge. Picture: Aaron Francis Source: News Limited DAYS after declaring he could not live on Newstart, Adam Bandt returned to life as a parliamentarian with a business-class fight to Canberra and service in the Chairman's Lounge. The Greens MP enjoyed a free coffee in the exclusive Qantas lounge in Melbourne before boarding his flight with his tax-payer funded business class ticket, which cost twice the amount a person on Newstart receives each week. Mr Bandt attempted to live on the $246 a week Newstart allowance in a bid to boost Greens' calls for a $50 a week increase funded by taxing workers earning $1 million at 50 per cent. "I said from the beginning that unlike people on Newstart, I would be going back to a well-paid job at end of the week," Mr Bandt said yesterday. If I have drawn attention to the plight of people on Newstart living in poverty and Labor's attacks on single parents it has been worth it. Newstart needs to increase by $50 a week. Mr Bandt accumulated a debt during his week living on Newstart I am full of admiration for those of you doing this month in, month out. Frankly, I don't know how you manage to do more than just barely make ends meet without going further into debt or missing out on some of the basics of life," he wrote of his experience. He said he had to call a taxi to one meeting a suburb away because torrential rain would have drenched him, contributing to his overspending for the week. "Yesterday, I left myself an hour to get to an important meeting," Mr Bandt wrote in his update about his Newstart experience. And then the torrential rain hit. Walking or public transport would have seen me soaked, ...not a good look if you're trying to impress a would-be boss, say. So, to get to my appointment on time and looking presentable, I had to catch a cab and put it on the credit card. A short $10 ride across one suburb, but it's plunged me into the red. I begin day five with $6.54. Not much ability to deal with the unexpected on such a low income. Will have to find out today where you can eat in Melbourne if you've got no cash.