Dunne, Carter hold out on perk

Two ministers who used their travel perks to spend thousands taking their wives on official overseas trips are refusing to follow Rodney Hide's lead and refund the fares.

But a wave of bad publicity over the generous travel perks for MPs and their spouses has finally forced some ministers to pledge not to use the subsidies for overseas holidays until the economy improves.

Yesterday Mr Hide repaid nearly $12,000 he used to take girlfriend Louise Crome on an official trip to Britain, Canada and the United States. The ACT leader and local government minister had already repaid $10,000 for the couple's holiday in Hawaii.

Prime Minister John Key told ministers in June to use their own money if they wanted their spouses with them on business overseas.

But though he has refused permission for Ministerial Services to fund spouses' travel, he is powerless to stop ministers using their MPs' travel perks.

MPs receive subsidies on international travel for themselves and their spouses or partners according to their length of service. A fifth-term MP such as Mr Hide gets the maximum 90 per cent rebate.

His decision to repay Ms Crome's fare has put pressure on Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Agriculture Minister David Carter to follow suit.

Mr Dunne spent about $12,000 taking wife Jennifer Mackrell to Europe in June. Mr Carter took wife Heather to Europe in July, but the cost has not been disclosed.

Mr Dunne would not say whether he would repay his wife's fare. Mr Carter's office indicated he would not refund the cost of his wife's travel, but she would not go with him at taxpayers' expense in future.

The Dominion Post has established that Police Minister Judith Collins used her perks to take husband David Wong-Tung on an official trip to Perth at a cost of $775.65.

She defended the spending as she was attending a conference of Australian state ministers, at which there was a function to which spouses were specifically invited. "Frankly, I think he gave very good value for money in terms of helping me represent New Zealand in my very first official meeting with the other ministers ..."

Her husband, a former policeman with Samoan heritage, could have used her 50 per cent subsidy to travel to Samoa to help after the tsunami, but paid his own way.

Those other ministers who have confirmed using the perk for overseas breaks indicated they would not repay it, but several said they would stop using it while the economy was in trouble.

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp spent $3484 for his and wife Denise Henare's holiday in the Cook Islands. He would not repay it, but would forgo the perk. "Although it is part of my remuneration, I will not be using it again in the current economic climate."

Justice Minister Simon Power claimed $3991 of the $5475 cost of taking wife Lisa to Perth in January, but would not make any further claims. Housing Minister Phil Heatley spent $924 taking wife Jenny to the Cook Islands, and would also not use the perk again.

Education Minister Anne Tolley spent $4120 for her and husband Allan to holiday overseas at an undisclosed destination and Health Minister Tony Ryall claimed $2560 to travel with wife Kara to Rarotonga.

Their offices did not say whether they would follow Mr Hide's lead or would continue to use the subsidy for overseas holidays.

$40,000 JUNKET BILL

A $40,000 bill was run up by MPs and their spouses on the trip that landed Maori Party MP Hone Harawira in hot water.

The cost was roughly shared between the three MPs, so worked out at $13,300 for travel and accommodation.

The Office of the Speaker confirmed yesterday that the three MPs on the trip – Mr Harawira, National MP Katrina Shanks and Labour MP Rajen Prasad – all took their spouses with them.

The cost was covered by the Office of the Clerk, including the cost of spouses. But a spokesman said the cost was no more than it would have been for the MPs to travel alone, as they flew economy class, instead of business class, as MPs are entitled to.

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