Jacinda Ardern says Labour is 'trying our best' to keep MP expenses down

August 16, 2018

Only one Labour MP made it into the top 10 spenders for the last three months.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Labour is "trying our best" to keep MP expenses down after a list of MPs' expenses was released by Parliamentary Services today.

Only one Labour MP made it into the top 10 spenders for the last three months.

When asked by media if she was proud of this fact, Ms Ardern replied that her party does it's best to try and keep expenses down among MPs.

"We've got things like ministers moving together to use things like vans," Ms Ardern said of the Labour Party's more frugal expenditures.

Ms Ardern spoke to reporters while she was in the Wairarapa as part of a regional visit. The Prime Minister said she used the ride-sharing method with fellow MPs to keep costs down on making the trip.

Due to the early leak of the National Party expenses, an inquiry has been launched by Speaker Trevor Mallard "to get to the bottom of it", he said yesterday.

MPs who had expenses over $30,000 were Labour’s Kiri Allan, National’s Hamish Walker, Jacqui Dean, Todd McClay, Louise Upston, Anne Tolley and Nikki Kaye, as well as NZ First MPs Jenny Marcroft and Mark Patterson.

The expenses are from April 1, 2018 to June 30,2018, collected by Internal Affairs.

It includes Wellington accommodation, out of Wellington travel expenses, domestic air travel and surface travel.

Due to the early leak of the National Party expenses, an inquiry has been launched by Speaker Trevor Mallard "to get to the bottom of it", he said yesterday.

Mr Bridges' MP expenses were released earlier than scheduled this week, with $113,973 spent on travel and accommodation between April and June.

Ministers' expenses have not been released yet. 


 

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