Someone tell the Taxpayer’s union. The New Zealand taxpayer is going to be ripped off.
There is within Parliament a rort occurring that will increase a brand new MP’s salary by about $75,000 and will give his minnow party resources that it does not deserve. It is likely that through this deft sleight of hand this particular MP is going to be given additional resources worth $320,000 per year.
An equivalent arrangement will give a second minnow party’s sole MP the same sorts of resources. This party is tiny and achieved just over half the number of party votes that the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party achieved but will also receive the same amount of Government largesse.
The rort is National agreeing to continue with Peter Dunne as a Minister and appointing ACT’s David Seymour as an associate Education Minister. It does not have to. On election night figures it can comfortably form a government by itself and I am sure that ACT, United Future and the Maori Party will agree to give it supply and confidence. So these two arrangements will cost the taxpayer $790,000 per annum and this money does not have to be spent.
And why should the Taxpayer’s union get involved?
It’s principles include this rather bold statement:
“WE PROMOTE SENSIBLE RESTRAINT OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE BY:
This is clearly Government waste and it is clearly corporate welfare.
And while we are on the subject of ACT has anyone ever noticed the uncanny resemblance between Jamie Whyte and David Seymour and Rimmer and Kryten from Red Dwarf?
Update: It appears that the Taxpayer’s Union has criticised the proposed ACT deal. Jordan Williams has released a press release saying the following:
“Ministers should be appointed based on competency to serve, not as a dishonest way to give an a single MP party extra staff.”
“The Prime Minister’s comments imply that he wants to give Mr Seymour a junior ministerial role in order for him to have more Parliamentary resources. If true, it is an affront to taxpayers who have to fork out money for this horse-trading.”
“We’re calling on the Prime Minister to assure New Zealanders that ministerial roles are not being given to minor parties as an underhand method for more taxpayer funding.”
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