Expelled Labour MP Chris Carter says he's disappointed about getting a black mark for not showing up at Parliament and has assured the public he is working hard.Mr Carter is in Auckland after being expelled from his party on Monday night.He had previously
Expelled Labour MP Chris Carter says he's disappointed about getting a black mark for not showing up at Parliament and has assured the public he is working hard.
Mr Carter is in Auckland after being expelled from his party on Monday night.
He had previously taken six weeks off after being ousted from the parliamentary wing of his party.
Speaker Lockwood Smith yesterday said Mr Carter had now been absent for more than 14 sitting days and he could not certify his absence this week was because of illness or another good reason so deductions of $10 a day would start being taken from his $145,000 a year salary package.
Speaking to Radio New Zealand this morning, Mr Carter seemed surprised to have been landed with the penalty.
"I've had a bit of a rough week really, my reputation has taken a bit of a battering and I just think it's like putting the boot in when someone's down."
Mr Carter said he was used to party whips taking care of procedural issues such as applying for leave and had overlooked the formality himself. He said he had explained his situation to Dr Smith and told him he was not slacking.
"I just don't want people to get the impression that somehow I'm malingering and not doing my job... this will provide more opportunity to blacken my name", he said.
He pointed out he was at Parliament on Tuesday and spent the following two days "working hard" in his Te Atatu electorate.
Mr Carter got into hot water with his party when he anonymously sent a letter on July 28 to media, undermining party leader Phil Goff.
He has continued his criticism of Mr Goff and says 17 MPs talked to him about the need for a new leader, but refuses to name them.
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