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Expenses must be independently examined

Hon Pete Hodgson
MP for Dunedin North

26 November 2009 Media Statement
Deputy Speaker’s expenses must be independently examined

Labour has called for the expense arrangements of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament to be independently examined and the result made public.

Labour MP Pete Hodgson said that at first glance the arrangements of Deputy Speaker Lindsay Tisch appeared contrary to the rules.

“When questions of a presiding officer of Parliament are raised, they must be followed through. The integrity of Parliament demands that. I’m sure Mr Tisch would agree.

“At first glance Mr Tisch may not have been following the rule of charging actual and reasonable expenses, but instead charging the taxpayer at a commercial rate.

“This may have meant that Mr Tisch was paying down the principal of any loan he had against the property. If he has no debt then his company would simply be banking the rental. Either way that is forbidden under the rules”

Mr Hodgson said that is was important to not jump to conclusions.

“If Mr Tisch had interest costs and other actual expense costs totalling $410 a week then he has done no wrong. However the onus is on MPs to provide the proof, and he must now do so to an independent source.”


ENDS

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