Hon Pete Hodgson

MP for Dunedin North

16 November 2010 Media Statement

Ministers’ Wellington accommodation expenses rise 8% in one year

The cost of housing Ministers in Wellington has risen by more than 8% in one year, despite Prime Minister John Key introducing a new scheme to save money.

Labour’s Pete Hodgson has labelled the new scheme ‘another National Party rort’ in which the number of Ministers claiming over $10,000 per quarter has risen from five a year ago to eleven today.

“This is because Mr Key has set a new maximum for one category of Ministers of $37,500 per annum. By some magic most Ministers are claiming the full amount, though they do not need to present a list of their actual and reasonable expenses. That means if they are able to live on less than that, they can simply pocket the difference.

“Another category of Ministers have their maximum set at $8,055 per quarter. And sure enough, that’s what most of them are claiming.

“Another group of Ministers live in government-owned homes, so do not claim anything.

“In all only three Ministers who could claim a maximum allowance are not doing so. One is John Boscawen, who has only just become a Minister and the others are Wayne Mapp and Jonathan Coleman.

“All remaining ministers are either ineligible or maxed out.”

ENDS

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