Labour's three errant former ministers are due to front up at a caucus meeting this morning where they will face their colleagues for the first time since their credit card spending became a humiliating public ordeal.Shane Jones and Chris Carter have acce
Labour's three errant former ministers are due to front up at a caucus meeting this morning where they will face their colleagues for the first time since their credit card spending became a humiliating public ordeal.
Shane Jones and Chris Carter have accepted the punishment handed down by party leader Phil Goff for the way they used their ministerial credit cards when they held office in the previous government.
The third, Mita Ririnui, did not respond to NZPA's calls last night.
Mr Goff yesterday stripped all three of their portfolio responsibilities and demoted them in the caucus ranks.
Accounts for all former ministers, released last Thursday, revealed Mr Jones' frequent use of his credit card for personal purchases and to pay for pornographic movies in hotels.
Mr Carter was repeatedly warned about the way he was using his card, but continued to rack up big bills on overseas trips.
Mr Ririnui bought a bike and golf clubs.
The MPs paid the money back, but by using them for personal purchases they broke explicit rules.
Mr Jones lost his environment and economic development portfolios, and Mr Carter was stripped of his foreign affairs role.
Mr Ririnui lost his forestry portfolio.
Mr Jones said yesterday he bitterly regretted letting down himself, his colleagues, his family and his friends.
"The best thing I can do now is to work to rehabilitate myself in all their eyes, to strive to make a worthwhile political contribution in the years ahead and make a difference in the lives of Kiwis," he said.
"I've admitted that I did wrong, I breached the rules."
Mr Jones would not commit to staying on beyond the next election.
"My waka is in the backwaters...whether or not I have the te kaha, the strength, to paddle anywhere else just time will tell."
Mr Carter said in a statement he accepted his demotion but he didn't show up in Parliament to answer questions.
"I fully accept the decision of Phil Goff in relation to my parliamentary roles," he said.
"It is time...to rededicate myself to the principal job of being a Member of Parliament for Te Atatu and I will do this."
Prime Minister John Key said ministerial credit card records would continue to be released for public scrutiny, probably quarterly and possibly on a website.
He thinks public scrutiny is a good way to ensure ministers are careful in future.
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