Graham, Jeffries stripped of parliamentary perks
Former justice ministers lose heavily subsidised international air travel, other perks, in wake of Lombard verdict.
Hot Topic
EARNINGS
Former cabinet ministers Sir Douglas Graham and Bill Jeffries have been stripped of their parliamentary perks.
The two men have been written to by Parliamentary Service general manager Geoff Thorn, at the request of Speaker Lockwood Smith, advising them that they have lost their right to subsidised international and domestic air travel.
They and their wives have been entitled to a 90% subsidy on the equivalent of two return international flights to London each year, and 12 return domestic flights.
In his letter, sent this week, Mr Thorn told the men that from the moment they were convicted of Securities Act charges in relation to the collapse of Lombard Finance, their entitlement to those perks was lost, as the charges the charges they have been convicted of carry a potential punishment of two years or more years in prison.
However, neither man is likely to go to jail when they are sentenced in the Wellington High Court next month.
When he delivered his verdict in the case last week, Justice Robert Dobson said he favoured community-based sentences and financial penalties over custodial sentences.
Colin Williscroft
Wed, 29 Feb 2012
Wed, 29 Feb 2012
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Graham, Jeffries stripped of parliamentary perks
19105