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Last week Act and the Greens promised to break with a century of Parliamentary secrecy by disclosing their travel and accommodation expenses. This week they delivered.
Act leader Rodney Hide made his name as a "perkbuster", trimming costs for the taxpayer - so the pressure was on for full disclosure.The fact that his $29,501 in travel for the past six months is tracking higher than most other MPs in Act or the Greens might, then, appear a little embarrassing.
But as both a minister and leader, he is required to travel more. He also notes that he does not take up his entitlement to a chauffeured limo in Auckland, instead driving his tiny Smart car.
The other four Act MPs' expenses are notable for the tiny amounts they are claiming on accommodation in Wellington: even the highest claim, from Sir Roger Douglas, works out at only $682 a month - far short of the $2000 to which he is entitled.
Act MPs still haven't disclosed how they spend their $14,800 miscellaneous expenses top-ups.
Verdict: When Act MPs talk about cutting public spending, they are pretty much walking the talk.
Green Party MP Metiria Turei's airfares for the first four months of the year cost $18,968 - highest of the nine Green MPs - even though she had not yet been appointed co-leader.
Her use of taxis and rental cars, at the cost of $7384, is high. She is en route to spend nearly $80,000 on travel in 12 months - more than Hide's $60,000.
But her claims for Wellington accommodation are lower than two Green MPs: Catherine Dela- hunty and former co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons. Those two MPs, from East Coast and Coromandel, are claiming the maximum $2000 a month - multiplying to $24,000 a year. Green MPs still haven't disclosed how they spend their $14,800 expenses top-ups.
Verdict: As environmentalists, the Greens should lead by example, especially on flights. Must improve.
