Key writes to Speaker on MPs expenses
Prime Minister John Key is calling for a cross-party committee to examine ways of creating greater transparency of MPs expenses.
Mr Key said he would write to Speaker Lockwood Smith today suggesting the committee be established.
This is a good start. I don’t think it is practical or desirable for details of every individual expense of MPs to be public. In fact it would be grossly invasive .
But I do think that summary information can be made public, as the Greens have done. Total airfares, total taxis etc. Also information on whether they Wellington accommodation allowance goes to a property they own (directly or indirectly).
It will be interesting to see how the Speaker and other parties respond.