Who is claiming former MP travel perks

The Herald reports:

Former MPs and their spouses have been named for the first time for their travel spending on the taxpayer.

Between them they racked up more than $716,000 on the controversial perk in the year to June 30.

The biggest spenders include Rosalind Burdon, spouse of former National cabinet minister Philip Burdon, who claimed $12,913.

Of the MPs, former Labour MP Harry Duynhoven claimed $13,793, and Sir Roger Douglas spent $12,612 on international and domestic travel.

This information has long been secret – but a law change has seen it revealed, including what each former MP and spouse claimed.

Good to see this info is now public. Continues a trend of greater transparency.

Former MPs who were in Parliament before 1999 and their spouses can claim discounts on international travel pegged to the value of a business-class return trip to London. They also get 12 return domestic flights a year.

And also good that no new MPs since 1999 get them.

Seventy-seven former MPs claimed, at a total cost of $342,507 – $268,706 of which was for international travel.

A larger cost came from 77 spouses of former politicians, who between them claimed $373,729 – $305,956 of which was on international flights.

So the spouses and partners are claiming more than the former MPs!

Former MP/ year left Parliament and party/ amount claimed:
1. Harry Duynhoven (2008, Labour): $13,793
2. Sir Roger Douglas (2011, Labour/Act): $12,612
3. Michael Bassett (1990, Labour): $11,836
4. Sir Lockwood Smith (2013, National): $11,472
5. Sir Kerry Burke (1990, Labour): $11,351
6. Warren Kyd (2002, National): $9890
7. Chris Carter (2011, Labour): $9551
8. Marian Hobbs (2008, Labour): $9311
9. John Carter (2011, National): $9216
10. Sir Michael Cullen (2009, Labour): $9196
11. Sir Douglas Kidd (2002, National): $8936
12. Graeme Lee (1996, National/Christian Democrats): $8520
13. Sir Jim McLay (1987, National): $8339
14. Sir Don McKinnon (2000, National): $8332
15. Clem Simich (2008, National): $7721

And the spouses:

TOP 15 SPOUSES OF FORMER MPs:

1. Rosalind Burdon – Philip Burdon (1996, National) $12,913
2. Margaret Duynhoven – Harry DuynhoveN (2008, Labour) $12,144
3. Noeline Colman – Fraser Colman (1987, Labour) $11,778
4. Lady Clare De Lore – Sir Don McKinnon (2000, National) $11,469
5. Judith Bassett – Michael Bassett (1990, Labour) $11,444
6. Faheim Rastar Burke – Sir Kerry Burke (1990, Labour) $11,105
7. Dianne Kyd – Warren Kyd (2002, National) $10,987
8. Lady Jane Kidd – Sir Doug Kidd (2002, National) $10,907
9. Lady Glennis Douglas – Sir Roger Douglas (2011 Labour/Act) $10,827
10. Lady Alexandra Smith – Sir Lockwood Smith ((2013, National) $10,580
11. Susannah Walker – Bert Walker (1978, National) $10,380
12. Peter Kaiser – Chris Carter (2011, Labour) $10,088
13. Anne Collins – Sir Michael Cullen (2009, Labour) $9835
14. Leoni Carter – John Carter (2011, National) $9234
15. Daphne Lee – Graeme Lee (1996, National, Christian Dem) $8520

So Bert Walker was an MP for 18 years and his widow has been getting the perk for 40 years!