PM says MP travel entitlements to be abolished but MPs elected before 1990 will keep the perk.Prime Minister John Key said today that he would like to see the travel entitlement for all existing MPs and their spouses to be abolished “as soon as poss
PM says MP travel entitlements to be abolished but MPs elected before 1990 will keep the perk.
Prime Minister John Key said today that he would like to see the travel entitlement for all existing MPs and their spouses to be abolished “as soon as possible. “
He has asked Speaker Lockwood Smith to refer the matter to the Remuneration Authority, which decides MPs salaries.
Mr Key said the recent situation relating to Pansy Wong has again raised in the public’s mind questions about the international travel rebate available to MPs and ex-MPs and their spouses.
He said it is “clear that there is no public confidence in this system and it undermines public confidence in the institution of Parliament, and that is not a good thing for our democracy.
“The strong view of National Party MPs is that this entitlement has now outlived its usefulness, and should be abolished as soon as possible.”
He said any changes made to MPs’ salaries would likely be “very modest.”
Asked to respond to the prime minister's announcement, Dr Smith offered "the Speaker does not wish to make any comment on this matter."
