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Government Ministers Too Posh to Fly Jetstar?
Government Ministers Too Posh to Fly Jetstar?
5 JANUARY
2016
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Ministers are not practicing what they preach in their apparent support for more competition in New Zealand’s skies. Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, Jordan Williams, says:
“In August, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges welcomed Jetstar’s expansion into the regions. But despite the apparent support, it appears that not a single minister took a Jetstar flight that month. Not even one.”
“While the Government crows about how Jetstar means better value for consumers, we asked for a breakdown of all taxpayer funded flights taken by Ministers that month. The data, obtained under the Official Information Act, reveals that of the $74,503 spend on domestic flights in August alone, not one dollar was spent on the cheaper flights.”
“Some would say that politicians prefer Koru lounges and canapés than roughing it for a short flight with the rest of us. Others might just prefer Ministers practiced what they preached.”
Click here for the Department of Internal Affairs data.
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