Key defends Hide 

Source: NZPAJohn Key and Rodney Hide

The Prime Minister John Key has been obliged to defend Rodney Hide again, over his use of parliamentary perks.

The Act leader has agreed to answer media questions on Sunday afternoon over a holiday in Hawaii with his girlfriend.

It was revealed on Saturday that Hide had quietly paid back $10,000 for the trip to Hawaii.

It is a further embarrassment for the Prime Minister, who has already had to explain another Hide trip to Europe and the US.

Key told TVNZ's Q+A programme most MPs have been making the best of their travel allowances.

"It's difficult to characterise one individual minister when you look across the parliament and see exactly the same time as Rodney Hide took that perk, so did a whole lot of people," he says.

"It probably speaks a bit more about the whole structure of the benefit scheme that operates in parliament, and it speaks about the transparency regime that we now live in."

Key says he has made a point of telling his MPs, and some others, that it is a different world now.

"It's open, it's transparent, you are going to have to justify to the New Zealand public what you do and that might need to change your behaviour on the back of it."

Key says he is confident Hide still has a mandate to be critical of spending in the public sector, despite the recent revelations.

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cornflower ; 2009-11-09 @ 10:50 NZDT  

The hypocrisy of Hide defies belief.

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lizblack ; 2009-11-09 @ 09:00 NZDT  

I agree with Adam that a law change is needed. MP's MUST practise what they preach. It's sad that Rodney Hyde has only changed his mind over misuse of funding because of public outcry. Taxes are not paid to pay for indulgences.

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dancingqueen ; 2009-11-09 @ 05:18 NZDT  

OK! while your arranging for Rodney's neck. Sack Chris Carter the little pansy, who was every bit as bad swanning around with his boyfriend, at the Tax Payers costs. He is hopeless case. I would like to see him gone by lunch time.

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santa0007 ; 2009-11-09 @ 04:05 NZDT  

Bring back Winston Peters, Many towns & cities could do with his expertise than these guys. Maori things for Maori people,simple really, the Govt has all the marbles, nothing wrong with playing with them.

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peteredw ; 2009-11-08 @ 20:50 NZDT  

Good on you, Rodney, for admitting you did wrong. We all do the thing at times and it takes 'guts' to admit our wrongdoing. I accept your apology and will continue to give ACT my Party Vote in elections.

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