Will the last remaining National MP please turn all the lights off
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8:08 am, June 23rd, 2021 - 38 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, same old national -
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Oh dear.
Another story about yet another National MP in trouble because of their born to rule impulses.
From Claire Trevett in the Herald:
A National Party MP faced allegations of inappropriate spending of taxpayer money – allegations the MP is refusing to front on and which Parliamentary Service refuses to discuss under the cone of silence that protects MPs.
Sources inside the National Party have told NZME that a staff member of the MP flagged a concern in the last term of Parliament, alleging items of furniture were bought out of the MP’s taxpayer funds but did not appear in the office.
The items of furniture are understood to include a television.
The allegation was that the items went to the MP’s home rather than their office.
It is also understood the cost of a sofa the MP bought for the office at Parliament was also questioned, and the MP was told to return it.
Parliamentary Service has refused to say whether it investigated the allegations or whether any action was taken.
The MP at the centre of the accusations has refused to answer any questions on the matter.
Collins’ office has attempted to divert by releasing a copy of a letter from Parliamentary Service stating there were “no records of formal complaints” on file relating to the MP. Parliamentary Service then confirmed a formal complaint is not required for them to investigate.
The story appears to have started from sources inside the National Party. It must be a really fun party to be in right now.
Update: the Herald has reported that the MP is Harete Hipango. These blue on blue attacks are getting out of hand.
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Dude, where’s my couch?
That reeks of entitlement. If a beneficiary behaved like that? Wow and wow. I was brought up to understand that behaviour was "Theft as a servant".
Why would an MP need a television in their office? Is that normal?
Back in the day to catch the news but nowadays no …
Wanted to watch press conferences with J Ardern to see what a proper leader looks like? 😊
TVs are just big computer screens these days so there could be applications other than keeping up with the soaps.
To view the National Party vision and strategy a smart phone screen would suffice.
To view the National Party vision and strategy a …… Nokia Flip phone would suffice.
Neither. It's the Motorola brick …..'greed is good' says the man.
" It must be a really fun party to be in right now. "
You'd think but apparently some people thrive on chaos and doing other people harm.
I'm guessing this MP with lavish taste in couches is still in office and a threat to one Nat faction or another..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300339973/former-national-leader-todd-muller-retiring-at-next-election-cites-health-concerns
And now Muller retiring at next election
I am usually pretty cynical about politicians retiring for health or family reasons but this is one case where I don't have the slightest doubt about it being true.
Keep up the cynicism. He can afford to retire for health and family reasons, as we all would on a very nice pension.
And what is this "very nice pension" you are talking about? If he has such a thing it won't have come from his time in Parliament.
The most he can possibly get is a contribution of 20% of the basic MP salary each year that he is in Parliament. He entered the House in 2014.
That would total, for the 9 years he will have been an MP about $280,000.
That is a nice little sum to be sure but it isn't really going to provide Champagne and Caviar is it? The so-called "gold plated pension" scheme vanished many years ago. Nick Smith was the last person to qualify for it and nobody else ever will..
Alwyn, are you sure? What i just read seems to say that an MP can contribute 20% of salary which is then augmented as a lump sum upon retirement at a 1:2.5 subsidy.
So, Muller in 9 years could get 20% of annual salary times 9 times 2.5. 160,000 at 20% is $32,000 times 9 years $288,000 times 2.5 employer contribution gives $720,000.
“The ratio of superannuation subsidy to the member’s contribution is 2.5 to 1, so that a member must make a contribution to the retirement scheme of $1 for every $2.50 of superannuation subsidy.
Am I right? https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2003/0306/latest/DLM222350.html
The short answer is no, although I see where the confusion is, as the wording is a little funny. You are double counting the 2.5 multiplier.
The full phrase in the legislation is " the maximum amount that may be paid by way of superannuation subsidy is 20% of an ordinary member’s salary for that period of service."
That is the maximum subsidy paid which is what the taxpayer is putting in. It isn't the maximum the MP can put in. To get the maximum subsidy the MP would have to contribute at least 8% and then the 2.5 multiplier brings the tax-payer subsidy up to 20%.
My $280k is pretty rough of course. I couldn't be bothered working out what each years salary would have been so I just did a rough approximation.
Thanks, Alwyn. 🙂
$280k is pretty good on top of whatever else he can manage to wangle for himself. A whole lot more than real working people.
I reckon Judith told him to go (just my opinion). I don't think he was given much choice but to resign.
Well it won't be this guy:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/445351/former-national-party-leader-todd-muller-to-retire-at-next-election
OMG talk about talent burn
Todd hanging on until 2023.
Trying to avoid a mighty embarrassing by election?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-national-party-leader-todd-muller-to-retire-at-next-election/35S2AERVDFM4HMFULCPX5TDDFI/
Yes, and hanging on for a lovely pension on top of what he can earn in subsequent positions – probably not digging ditches. If he's so considerate, let him resign now and force a bye-election.
The Northland by-election cost $947,000. People would not see that as considerate.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/northland-byelection-cost-bomb-at-1-million/BYYCWWOKPOQMLIR4P72O7VV4YY/
Todd Muller’s majority was only 3,415 votes.
I reckon there’s a high chance that National would be losing a by-election.
https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-03.html
The National MP should be investigated and given the chance to "please explain", and if unable to adequately explain (which IMO is highly likely), he should resign or be sacked. MP's need to realise they are not above the normal rules. Having said that, when I have made similar comments on here about Labour or Green MP's acting inappropriately, I've copped a lot of flack. Should be one rule for all.
Given the "place of work" this may have occurred in I think a SFO referral may be in order
And the gift that keeps on giving……..
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-mp-who-faced-allegations-of-inappropriate-spending-revealed-as-harete-hipango/264EPI5TUX6BATFFOQSNTY3LNU/
Wow. As Ad said above, they sure know how to pick 'em.
maybe these continued attacks on hipango are part of a bigger picture. have seen a bit more from luxon lately, is this the beginning of the end of judiths eyebrow relevance . will she follow muldoon as a sideplayer in a rocky horror revival?
Jude's got a perception problem with her overwhelmingly pale, male caucus. So Harete's part of her solution but unfortunately, nobody took local opinions seriously when they told selectors just how fucking awful she [Harete] is.
And the clown show rolls on….
Political career (such as it was of course) for a flat screen & sofa? Where do NZ Nashnull find these people really. Maybe “Merv” was one of the talent scouts?
Or…. where does Goodfellow feature? What criteria do National require?
Callous? Entitled? Religious? … so many qualities lol, IMO … Make a good caption section. Mind you compared to some on their past list this is small beer.
and Todd Mullers resignation is entangled in it too….
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-mp-todd-mullers-resignation-followed-admission-at-late-night-caucus-meeting/7ULROKAZGUF7LNLLPV3NEMOZRE/
More 'strong/wrong team' players incapable of following honest 'Telfon' John's advice:
Honest John must be tearing his hair out – what prospects a 'finance hub' in NZ now?
Keep a lid on it; transparency isn’t playing out well for Nat MPs right now.