Public Address | Cafe | Legal Beagle: Update on the Former MP's travel perk

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:07:38 +1300

Yesterday ,under urgency, National found a way to get their perks another way unsupported by the Greens.

Giving with one hand, taking with another.

marty

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 23:11:14 +1300

Linger
yes the comparison is rubbish as she doesnt say what the AIrNZ cost was in 2014 which was obviously higher than the lowest cost one otherwise AirNz would of being the lowest cost. Sponger, no doubt!

linger

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:29:59 +1300

in 2014 (the year that it went to a lowest cost airline) … it cost more than it did with airnz the year before,
If the former MPs are not doing the same total amount of travel in each year compared, then the comparison is rubbish: it only shows there…

marty

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:09:24 +1300

Yes the price of the lowest cost business fare to London. Which wont be AIRNZ!

Ive no idea what the July 1st date means that the now knocked down Annette King was going on about.
I heard that Little interview, it did him nor Guyon any good. Little said he…

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:43:51 +1300

ok
next question, is there a cap on the annual spend for each MP + or- partner?

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:42:41 +1300

Why oh why oh why is it that...

it becomes Labour fault . Simon Bridges should be answering questions in that interview with Guyon. Yes Annette King would have benefited along with a few more Labour but National are the Govt of the day and seem to slime their way…

Brent Jackson

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:39:21 +1300

No. The pay-out would've been bigger, but they could still fly with whichever airline they liked.

Sofie Bribiesca

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:24:15 +1300

Trouble now is tho', fares that will possibly be purchased from overseas Airlines will see all profits head offshore. Had it been pegged to Air NZ ,no matter cost, the profits go back into our economy. We own it remember.

linger

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:16:06 +1300

*facepalm*
Why oh why oh why is it that, whenever they are presented with a golden opportunity to distinguish themselves from (and be “better” than) National, Labour consistently contrive to fuck it up so royally?

Sacha

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:50:04 +1300

where’s the difference?

says a lot about whose interests he feels connected with, yes.

Sacha

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:48:42 +1300

We should ditch this whole ridiculous arrangement from now on unless someone proves that ex-MPs are greatly impoverished and would be trapped in their homes without it.

Note also the PM abusing the words ‘retrospective’ and ‘fair’. Must have focus-grouped well.

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:41:39 +1300

That was a terrible interview. Labour had already made prats of themselves...
I was struck by his 'a deal is a deal' stance, as I thought that Labour had said were they to get into power they would reverse the Sky City 'deal' – where's the difference?

Lucy Telfar Barnard

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:36:24 +1300

That was a terrible interview. Labour had already made prats of themselves supporting the SOP at all, but to then defend it so poorly.
If they want to run the "contract" line, I think Steve Curtis' point is very well made: the pre-1999 MPs aren't just expecting the fulfillment of…

izogi

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:54:39 +1300

Goodness. Andrew Little completely trashed his interview with Guyon Espiner this morning, imho. He spent the whole time arguing about rewriting questions. I can'understand why he'd be taking the stance he seems to be taking, unless the old party elite are leaning on him, which doesn't seem too unlikely.

Lucy Telfar Barnard

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:00:13 +1300

Indeed. Another nice example of the line attributed to Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Good job Phil Lyth; Graeme Edgeler; all those who wrote to a politician to query their position…

marty

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:11:54 +1300

Thanks for that.
Well done Mr Edgeler and The Greens in that order

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:56:01 +1300

I havent read that that is so anywhere
Try this link
A proposal that would have boosted the international travel perks of former MPs has been dumped after the Green Party withdrew its support.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said the party wouldn't support a change that would be likely…

marty

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:26:40 +1300

Is it confirmed its being dropped?
I havent read that that is so anywhere

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:11:45 +1300

...if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids
Emil and the Detectives for the 21st century?

simon g

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:07:43 +1300

“We would have got away with it if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids …”

Idiot Savant

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:14:43 +1300

Apparently the SOP is being withdrawn. Huzzah!

marty

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:47:53 +1300

Annette King said this
"it would not necessarily increase costs and the change was about correcting the mistake of omitting Air New Zealand. It had nothing to do with former MPs "trying to grab something".
So it seems from reading this article that it wasnt a mistake and she omits…

Idiot Savant

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:53:55 +1300

Also, if the former MP is prevented from foreign travel by virtue of their enforced residence in one of Her Majesties Prisons, do they get to roll up the free flights for their eventual release? I think this should be clarified in the light of recent events?

They lose it…

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:05:23 +1300

If such Bills were required to have the Select Committee process, it may make for better thought out Legislation in the first instance and may make the public more interested in politics altogether and may curb the whole Urgency legislation. The "more transparency" in expenses has already unearthed some interesting…

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:08:50 +1300

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:06:18 +1300

What happens if Air NZ goes bust or is taken over in the future? Will parliament need to pass fresh legislation again.

Why not just give MPs a bigger super payment or departure gratuity that they can spend on foreign travel (or their retirement permaculture farm projects, or hookers 'n'…

Steve Curtis

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:17:06 +1300

Im assuming Annette King is one of those 'elected before 1999' who will in fact benefit handsomely from this change.

As well, the current business class has become a much higher standard of space and amenity than it was back in 1999.

Perhaps we could meet them half way and…

Graeme Edgeler

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:33:37 +1300

I have expanded the first paragraph of this since posting it.

Public Address

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:33:37 +1300

Discussion from blog post.