http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3875559/Cut-MPs-travel-perk-reportCut MPs' travel perk - report
By CLAIRE TREVETT - Stuff
Last updated 15:53 01/07/2010
A review of politicians' expenses has proposed stripping MPs of their international holidays perk and instead giving them a 10 per cent salary hike.
The report also recommends restricting spousal travel - which is currently unlimited - and preventing new MPs claiming public funding for accommodation they own or rent from their own family trust or other MPs.
The triennial review by former Speaker Sir Doug Kidd and Philip Barry was released today and recommends taking a scythe to the perks of MPs and more clearly splitting out what is a perk and what is a genuine business cost.
It said there was "no good reason" to retain a perk that gives MPs discounted international travel for their holidays - something which was not done in any comparable country.
It suggested instead that MPs' salaries be increased by about 10 per cent to compensate for losing the perk.
The panel also said an external body should take over setting benefits for MPs, rather than allowing them to do so themselves. While such suggestions have been made in previous years there has always been resistance and instead the Parliamentary Services Commission - a closed-door committee of MPs from all parties and the Speaker - has done so.
Further suggestions included a major revamp of the allowances claimed by MPs for accommodation while they are in Wellington. The report said new MPs should not claim public funding for houses they or an interested party - such as a fellow MP or family trust, owned - saying it exposed them to the perception they were seeking to get personal benefit from the public purse.
However, current MPs in such arrangements should be allowed to continue until their time in Parliament ended. If the practice was not stopped completely, reimbursement should be capped at 80 per cent of the market value rental.
They recommend also that MPs who own their own homes in Wellington no longer be able to claim for mortgage interest payments.
The report noted that the Speaker was also reviewing the Wellington accommodation allowance and was likely to make changes. While ministers were transferred onto a bulk funding scheme last year rather than having housing provided or actual expenses reimbursed, MPs remain on a hotch-potch of arrangements depending whether they rent, stay in a hotel or own their own home.
The report said changes were needed to stop increases in the total spending on MPs allowances because of the current economic climate.
It said "piecemeal" changes would not suffice and it would be "highly desirable" for the Speaker and Parliament to lead the reforms it proposed through and for the new regime to begin after the next general election.
The Speaker and Parliamentary Services Commission are also reviewing some entitlements, including travel perks and accommodation allowances for MPs.
The review is a regular three-yearly one but this was the first review since expenses began to be released on a quarterly basis last year.
If they can't have it one way they will have it the other..........