Ex MP travel expenses – it’s a fair question

29 comments on “Ex MP travel expenses – it’s a fair question ”

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1. One Anonymous Bloke 1

   26 October 2016 at 11:27 am

   They formed a union, negotiated a good employment contract, took some perks instead of pay-rises. What’s not to like? 😉
   • Lanthanide 1.1

     26 October 2016 at 12:19 pm

     I wonder what it a net-present-value analysis would show for the value of these benefits, and what it would cost to simply give a lump-sum payout instead.

     I’d guess in the region of $20M or so.
     • Lanthanide 1.1.1

       26 October 2016 at 12:19 pm

       Seems I can’t edit. That’s $20M across all MPs, not each.
2. Lanthanide 2

   26 October 2016 at 12:17 pm

   Presumably that’s 140,000 lunches on one single day.

   It would be better to calculate how many children could be fed for a whole year, as that compares to the cost of hiring cops and nurses, who are employed for entire years, not just one lunch time.
   • Garibaldi 2.1

     26 October 2016 at 12:35 pm

     This should be Wayne’s area of expertise. Come on Wayne, spill the beans on your perks and what they mean for you.
3. Whispering Kate 3

   26 October 2016 at 1:43 pm

   I cannot imagine any other professional body of people being able to negotiate anything near what these troughers have organised for themselves. This is entitlement with attitude if you ask me. Most National voters as all other voters would feel uncomfortable with this utter waste of taxpayer’s money. As for the PM saying it couldn’t be done to retrospectively undo this cushy number – what a pathetic excuse is that for goodness sake. This Government does what it wants when it suits them and other parties are just as bad as each other. No wonder people give up voting and are cynical of the democratic process.

   Meanwhile mentally unwell suicide every day for the lack of good professional care. kids go to school hungry – the list goes on and its sickening – we are just a passionless people as Gordon McLauchlan said some years back and we haven’t changed one iota since. How bad is it going to get before we blow the lid off all this corruption – there is no other word for it – its the corruption of hard earned tax dollars nothing less. And to just finish off – tax dollars to aid a heavy weight fight – if it isn’t on free to air then its just another rort of our hard earned dollars. I blame all parties for their selfish behaviour.
   • Gangnam Style 3.1

     26 October 2016 at 2:12 pm

     Well put!
     • Crashcart 3.1.1

       26 October 2016 at 2:56 pm

       If I remember rightly didn’t they try to retrospectively try to introduce legislation to deny family members pay for caring for people with disabilities? JK didn’t seem to have a problem with slapping regular Kiwi’s doing one of the hardest and most under appreciated jobs in the country. When it comes to his old mates then it is just not the done thing.
   • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

     26 October 2016 at 3:02 pm

     In fact, low wages for MPs would drive corruption far more effectively, if it’s corruption you’re after. Make it a rich man’s game and encourage them to supplement their earnings: own goal.
     • Groundhog 3.2.1

       26 October 2016 at 5:51 pm

       Regrettably, you my have a point. Nevertheless, these perks are sickening.
       • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1

         26 October 2016 at 10:42 pm

         Then I suggest you lie on your back while you read about them.
4. AmaKiwi 4

   26 October 2016 at 1:59 pm

   When children are underfed in refugee camps, the world condemns it in the most damning terms. But not in NZ, because Crusher Collins says the parents are to blame.

   Nice work main stream media and opposition parties.
   • AmaKiwi 4.1

     26 October 2016 at 2:01 pm

     Apologies.

     I meant to post this under “Tax Cuts” but there doesn’t seem to be an edit function today.
5. Cinny 5

   26 October 2016 at 2:00 pm

   That’s a massive sum for just one year. No doubt many would be exploiting the perk. Would be interesting to see just whom is milking it the most.

   Will any political party put the people first and scrap this perk?

   Those for the perk are so very very selfish, thinking of no one but themselves.
   Surely after having an MP’s salary they would have savings to pay for their own travel.

   Whom will speak out against it?
   Which MP’s will make a stand for the good of the citizens?
   • Cinny 5.1

     26 October 2016 at 2:03 pm

     http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/1133/261016SPENDINGonline-01.jpg
   • AmaKiwi 5.2

     26 October 2016 at 2:11 pm

     @ Cinny

     Did you think our parliament has a higher purpose than to represent the interests of the MPs and those who pay for their campaigns?

     When MPs say “parliament is sovereign” they include their God given right to spend OUR tax money however THEY think is best. People like you and me having any say would create too much confusion.

     Besides, you and I can’t be trust, but MPs can. (That would make a good “Tui Beer. . . Yeah Right” billboard.)
6. Siobhan 6

   26 October 2016 at 2:02 pm

   The fact that the spouses of ex MPs are also entitled to travel perks is very odd. What other employment contracts in NZ cover spouses??
   Lady Jane Kidd (Former MP’s spouse) $13,859 on Travel, AND a security access card to Parliament, being one of the two spouses of former MPs who seem to need the privilege..
   • Henry Filth 6.1

     26 October 2016 at 5:21 pm

     Mmmmmmmmm? Judges? But I may be wrong.
7. One Anonymous Bloke 7

   26 October 2016 at 3:00 pm

   False dichotomies aren’t the exclusive preserve of right wing nut jobs, I see.

   We can either compensate our representatives well or have nurses and school meals? Really?

   No, not really.
   • weka 7.1

     26 October 2016 at 3:49 pm

     “Really?”

     No. No-one made that argument, but you and your straw man could probably hash it out ;-p
     • greywarshark 7.1.1

       26 October 2016 at 10:01 pm

       How do strawmen get on on November 5th? It would be a good time to get these guys starting flamewars etc.
   • Draco T Bastard 7.2

     26 October 2016 at 4:00 pm

     Except that we do have limited resources and that puts a limit on what we can do so in reality it is a choice of doing some things or the other things.

     The question is our priorities and what we want to happen and what’s actually happening.
8. Paul 8

   26 October 2016 at 3:46 pm

   Still waiting for Wayne to comment…….
   • Richard Rawshark 8.1

     26 October 2016 at 6:26 pm

     aww Jeez Wayyyne, where the fuck are YA!

     [We all have busy lives, Richard, so a delay in responding is not an issue . Not replying at all is also not an issue. Thrashing your point might be, though. TRP]
9. Richard Rawshark 9

   26 October 2016 at 3:57 pm

   700k is a drop in the bucket IMHO, mum told me one UK MP built a moat around his house on taxpayer money, they scammed like Pro’s.

   as for MP’s perks of travel, if it’s work related sure, if it’s a perk foir the job they can lose it.

   HOWEVER labour been as bad at it as Nats, pair of you lot taking the piss, 35 million electoral budget labour 55 million the nats? and your pleading poverty.

   any chance of a look how you spend that money?
10. Henry Filth 10

    26 October 2016 at 5:21 pm

    If I recall, the travel benefit was granted in lieu of a pay rise. One of those things which seem easy at the time, which are never properly costed, and which make a good impression at the time.

    But which turn out to be a really bad idea, getting worse as time passes.

    Stop it for any new MP coming into the house at the next election. Keep it in place for the current crop of beneficiaries.

    Last time I popped in to parliament, the few MPs in the chamber generally looked so grey and unwell that looking at them, you wouldn’t give them much time to enjoy it anyway.
    • Lanthanide 10.1

      26 October 2016 at 10:19 pm

      There are quite a few travel perks open to MPs, but the subsidised international travel for sitting MPs has been rescinded for new MPs since 2008.

      For former MPs, they only get the subsidy if they were elected before 1999 and served 5 full terms.

      https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/david-farrar/david-farrar-a-guide-travel-perks-mps&ved=0ahUKEwjk-p-LkPjPAhUHzWMKHQg7BjEQFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNHj2yhgFvWxFQ2SGwCFuDkk26P9PQ&sig2=CW9LloBFm6Q3IXzTWpxsMg
      • Henry Filth 10.1.1

        27 October 2016 at 6:18 am

        Ah, I’m pleasantly behind the times again.
11. greywarshark 11

    26 October 2016 at 10:11 pm

    Those ancient MPs will probably be lining up for triple heart by-passes and not going to their Maker (recalled as faulty) for a while yet. (Perhaps another name for the Beehive could be Fawlty Towers).

    In the meantime people who do want to plan ahead and go out with a smile are having the ‘over-worked’ police raiding the homes of the sane elderly looking stealing their personal vials of Nembutal or their helium they have put by for when they decide it’s a rainy day. It does make logic though. Elderly people are the new profit centre and another way of feeding off government payments for private companies providing services.

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