Editorial: Posting MPs' spends great

Prime Minister John Key

Prime Minister John Key has warned taxpayers there could be some hefty ministerial hotel bills in the next expense release after his stay in London for the Rugby World Cup final.

Hotels in London have hiked up their prices for the expected influx of visitors. This weekend, the cheapest rooms at the hotel Mr Key usually stays at are $1300 a night. The more exclusive suites in which he is likely to stay are from $2200 to $4000 a night. Then there's the added expense of the entourage as Mr Key is also likely to have at least three staff travelling with him.

His warning is a bit like a staff member going crazy with the company credit card at Friday night drinks and having to explain to the boss on Monday one of the bank statements might be a bit out of whack.

While it's pretty hard to swallow as we'd all love to be staying in a flash suite and attending the rugby final, he is the prime minister and shouldn't be expected to bunk at a backpackers.

Ministers' spending has been in the spotlight during the past week after it was revealed Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee stayed at a $2100-a-night, 5-star hotel in Singapore.

Ministerial credit card details are now posted online, which goes a long way to making MPs more accountable.

In the past week, new rules have also come into force which sees travel perks for former MPs also subject to the same disclosure.

Former MPs who were elected before 1999 and their spouses have a controversial travel perk which allows them to clock up airfares capped at the equivalent of a return business class flight to London each year.

More than $716,000 was claimed by 154 people in the year to June 30. Several who are getting the perk have high-paying government positions.

I bet this figure will drop dramatically next year because the fear of being shamed publicly is worse than coughing up for their own trips.

Wouldn't it be great if spending of public money was made available at a local level too?

If you're not comfortable with the public seeing how you've spent the money, maybe it is time to dust off your own credit card.