-
Watch Video
-
Related
The parliamentary expenses saga has shone an unwelcome spotlight on the spending habits of some MPs and ONE News has been investigating how they work.
Deputy political editor Francesca Mold has discovered the increasing interest has resulted in some sudden changes in behaviour.
Labour MP Trevor Mallard has even declared his trip before he leaves.
"I'd rather have the publicity and make the explanation when I'm here rather than have people chase me round London when I'm over there. It's clear we are in more transparent times," says Mallard who is off to London for nine days at a cost of $8000.
He says the trip is mostly work involving education and information technology meetings, but includes some pleasure.
"I'll watch the All Blacks play, if they win it'll be pleasure, if they lose it'll be hard work."
Parliament's Speaker Lockwood Smith is worried about the impact the scrutiny is having, especially on families, and is concerned people don't understand MPs' pay structure.
"What I am concerned about is memebers free that they shouldn't do their job because they are frightened that the cost of doing it may seem excessive," says Smith.
Six years ago, it was decided backbench MPs would get a base annual salary of $110,000, plus some other benefits such as an average entitlement for international travel of $5780. Their partners domestic travel is put at $3382. They also get superannuation benefits of up to $25,000, making a total average package of around $143,000.
Now, MPs have a base salary of $131,000 and $14,800 for expenses like entertainment. When travel benefits are added in it's a total package of up to $180,000 - $37,000 more than six years ago.
"There is a total package and these benefits are deducted from that and the members pay what is left," says Smith.
The Speaker has commissioned a review of spending which he hopes will reassure the public that their money is well spent while allowing MPs to get on with their work.
