Photo Source: Leeloo The First
The deadline for public submissions on a key bill reforming MPs’ expense reporting has passed, but the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (TPU) is not backing down.
With submissions having closed on 6 November, the TPU continues to call for swift action to address the lack of transparency in the way non-ministerial MPs use taxpayer funds.
Current Expense Rules and Public Scrutiny
Non-ministerial MPs in New Zealand are not subject to Freedom of Information laws when it comes to their expenses—a loophole that has recently sparked public outcry.
This became evident after a Māori Party co-leader’s taxpayer-funded trip to Hawaii was revealed, raising eyebrows among taxpayers who wondered why such spending had been hidden from public view.
Long-Standing Calls for Reform
This is not the first time that calls for greater transparency have been made. In 2005, the Danks Committee recommended that MPs’ expenses be subject to more rigorous oversight to avoid the misuse of taxpayer money.
Similarly, the Law Commission, in its 2010 report, urged clearer and more transparent reporting of parliamentary spending.
A Pathway to Reform
The proposed bill, which sought to amend parliamentary funding rules, aimed to address the growing concerns by making MPs’ expenses more transparent. By removing current secrecy provisions, the bill would allow for greater public oversight.
The Taxpayers’ Union is pushing for a further step: aligning the expense reporting requirements for non-ministerial MPs with those of government ministers.
Though submissions have closed, the TPU remains committed to seeing the bill passed—and is urging MPs to act quickly to implement the long-overdue reforms.