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Sensible Sentencing challenges MPs to refuse pay rise

Sensible Sentencing challenges MPs to refuse pay rise


27 February 2015

“I realise this will take courage and we extend an open challenge to all MPs – or any MP from any party – to have the courage to be the first to stand up and publicly denounce this nonsense and refuse to accept the pay rise.” - Garth McVicar

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling on MPs to refuse the 5.4 percent annual pay rise recommended by the Remuneration Authority.

SST Founder, Garth McVicar says the money should instead go towards ensuring police are adequately funded and able to protect the public and communities the MPs are supposed to represent.

“Our police are continuously facing funding issues and are being forced to cut budgets which impacts directly on public safety.”

McVicar said the 5.4 percent pay increase to MPs was a slap in the face for law-abiding citizens who are continuously facing added security costs due to an increase in burglaries and other crime such as stock rustling. “Farmers and other businesses are installing their own security cameras simply because police are under resourced and unable to catch the bad guys. These criminals know the chances of being caught – let alone prosecuted – are that slim they are prepared to take the risk.”

“Our MPs get elected knowing what their salary is. SST believes that salary should be locked in for the full 3 year Parliamentary term; this nonsense of getting elected then receiving a pay rise backdated to pre your election is a total crock.”

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McVicar said that for MPs to maintain their credibility in the eyes of the public it is essential they stand as a collective and refuse the pay rise.

“It is a very sad day for New Zealand if our members of Parliament who are elected to run the country cannot do anything about this debacle.”

“I realise this will take courage and we extend an open challenge to all MPs or any MP from any party to have the courage to be the first to stand up and publicly denounce this nonsense and refuse to accept the pay rise.”

ends

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