The Greens have sent a letter to other political parties calling for an independent review of MPs allowances and expenses.Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei asked other parties to support her proposal to the Parliamentary Services Commission at its meeti
The Greens have sent a letter to other political parties calling for an independent review of MPs allowances and expenses.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei asked other parties to support her proposal to the Parliamentary Services Commission at its meeting on Wednesday evening.
Pressure was mounting for an independent review of MPs' travel entitlements after the resignation of former Cabinet minister Pansy Wong following revelations her husband conducted business while on taxpayer-funded trips.
Mrs Turei was calling on Speaker Lockwood Smith to establish an independent body to review the system for MPs expenses and allowances and to look at the need for an independent body to set those expenses and allowances.
Currently, the independent Remuneration Authority sets MPs pay and Dr Smith's office deals with expenses.
In her letter to other parties, Mrs Turei said there needed to be a clear separation of personal and Parliamentary benefit from the expenses.
She said the current system was not working and undermined public confidence in Parliament.
"The other political parties need to commit to change... It is time for them to step up and do what's right."
