Perk only partially gone

Claire Trevett at NZ Herald reports:

Parliament’s Speaker has moved to officially abolish politicians’ international travel perks, and will vet any travel applications by MPs to ensure they do not abuse the new system.

His new set of “directions” – the rules governing MPs’ spending and entitlements – has abolished use of the perk for private travel, from January 1. And it can no longer be used for spouses in any circumstances.

That is good, and well overdue.

MPs can still claim a rebate if their trip is primarily for parliamentary purposes – a broad-ranging definition which includes “research” and international conferences.

This is well intentioned, but is open to exploitation. If an MP wishes to go over to the UK and attend the Labour or Conservative Party conference, then they will be able to. Catch up with a couple of mates who happen to be MPs there and you have your research component.

But the vetting will ensure no one can set up a work-related meeting on holiday as justification for a rebate.

The Speaker is in charge of vetting those trips, for which MPs must pay part of the costs themselves.

This is better than no vetting, but an inferior solution to what I prefer – that the costs of any international travel be funded out of a parliamentary party’s bulk fund. This would provide a real incentive for MPs to only travel when there is real value in doing so – because there are other things you can spend the bulk fund on – more staff, external research, advertising etc.

The international travel subsidy will continue to be ring-fenced. This provides an incentive for MPs to try and maximise its use.