Gerry Brownlee MP
National Party Deputy Leader

11 November 2006

Big travel bill needs explaining

Winston Peters’ three-month $250,000 travel bill needs explaining, says National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee.

Mr Brownlee is releasing figures from Parliamentary questions which show that the New Zealand First Leader has spent more than $250,000 in the three months from July to September on overseas travel.

It is more than Mr Peters spent in the eight-and-a-half months he was Minister in the 2005/06 financial year ($222,921).

Mr Brownlee says at the current rate the Foreign Minister will spend $1 million on travel in the 2006/07 year.

“Mr Peters’ travel bill is well out of kilter with his predecessor who also had trade responsibilities.”

For the entire 2003/04 year, former Foreign Affairs AND Trade Minister Phil Goff spent $259,264 and in 2004/2005 his total bill came to $283,240.

“Mr Peters needs to clarify whether this extensive travel itinerary is one of the baubles he talked about.”

Ends

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