The Finance Minister has criticised Shane Jones for a $30,000 budget blowout incurred while attend a mining conference in Canada, saying he has made “significant errors”.
But Jones has immediately fired back, telling RNZ, Nicola Willis “must be in possession of information I don’t have, because to the best of my knowledge there were no errors made by my office”.
And New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is defending his deputy’s travel expenses including a private limousine on standby and an upgrade to business class flights, saying it’s “nothing out of the ordinary”.
The spending of $4,000 to have a limo on standby for three days is obscene. No one would do this with their own money.
I have no issue with Ministers flying business class. But you can’t get approval for premium economy and then just switch to business class without getting further approval.
A Minister should ensure that the cost of their trips is within the level approved by Cabinet. That doesn’t mean they personally monitor every cent. It means they instruct their staff to do it. It is a basic function of ministerial office staff to manage travel budgets.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
7 comments:
People forget that NZ First was in there with Jacinda when it came to the mad overspending of the previous government. They are also responsible for our country's interest payments.
Did not take long for Porngate Jones to show he has learnt nothing from his previous fall from grace. A little humility goes a long way and Jones shows he has none.
Speaking from the private sector- it is reasonable for a politician to expect a long haul flight to be in business class- I’ve seen firsthand the schedules they’re expected to operate to when they land and you wouldn’t ask it of any employee.
I’m also going to give him a little leeway on the “limo” on the following grounds-1 was it a stretch limousine or a chauffeured town car? That point has not been made clear as both are called limousines.
The latter would also be a reasonable expense for an employee needing to function at high levels in a foreign country where they don’t know their way around and have a lot of meetings to be conveyed between.
4K sounds like a town car cost on standby for four days.
I don’t think this is unreasonable.
Where you can nitpick as a taxpayer is his accommodations…a suite vs a decent single room- hookers vs abstaining for a few days- champers with every meal or the nz govt picking up the bill for everyone at meetings in a restaurant….these are the sorts of things that should be newsworthy- not a minister flew business class on long haul and used a car for a few days.
And who was he meeting?
Maybe Shane should have flown about Canada in Trudeau's private jet like Jacinda ?
Wasn't she so economical ?
what's a few tens of thousand to sham jones?
A pittance when bobblehead cindy gave him a billion just for marae-'youse fullas want, 'cause i got, i'm matua'.
Whinny's stacking his deck to suit all-stu nash isn't on granddad's ticket anymore, piece of....
I'm now twice shy on whinny and his cohort, NZF not supporting the 'principles' bill, the end of whinny and his ilk and my vote.
As has been said before; a little humility would go a long way for Matua Jones and his leader, instead of digging a larger hole for themselves by doubling down
Post a Comment
Thank you for joining the discussion. Breaking Views welcomes respectful contributions that enrich the debate. Please ensure your comments are not defamatory, derogatory or disruptive. We appreciate your cooperation.