ACT releases MPs expenses

ACT has become the second political party to release its MPs' parliamentary and ministerial expenses.

Leader and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide claimed the most -- $48,319.62 -- of the party's five MPs for the six months from December 1.

He spent $26,495.82 on airfares and $16,425 on his ministerial residence in Wellington.

David Garrett and Sir Roger Douglas were next in line with $29,304.21 and $24,048.60 expenditure respectively.

Wellington-based Consumer Affairs Minister and Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy claimed $20,904.40, including more than $5000 for a trip to Australia.

Mt Albert by-election candidate John Boscawen claimed estimated $19,447.50, but was yet to submit all claims.

In total ACT's five MPs spent $142,024.33.

The figures included claims for spouse and dependants.

The Greens' nine MPs released details of their travel and accommodation expenses yesterday, just after Speaker Lockwood Smith announced a disclosure regime for all MPs' expenses would be developed.

Mr Hide said his party would participate in a committee to consider the disclosure.

The Greens' release followed a pledge by new co-leader Metiria Turei to disclose the information as pressure continued for MPs to be more transparent about how they spend taxpayers' money.

The figures released by the Greens yesterday were for the first four months of this year.

They show that Dunedin-based MP Mrs Turei had the biggest bill for air travel ($18,968) and car transport ($7384) among Green MPs.

Auckland MP Keith Locke was the second highest spender on air travel ($16,832), and also spent $4194 on car travel.

Wellington-based MP Russel Norman was the third highest spender on air travel ($15,828) and the second highest on car travel ($4480).

He was also the highest claimant for out-of-Wellington hotel accommodation with $1319.

Dr Norman is the party's co-leader and is also contesting the Mt Albert by-election.

The lowest spending Green MP was Wellington-based MP Sue Kedgley, who claimed for $4593 for air travel, $1172 for cars and $102 for out-of-Wellington accommodation.

In total the nine Green MPs spent $123,945 on air travel for the night months and $37,078 for car travel, though this also included spouses' travel.