Editorial: Field shows the system works

OPINION: New Zealand can be justifiably proud of its record on corruption.

Last year's Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Sweden, Denmark and New Zealand as the three least corrupt countries in the survey of 134 countries. It was a fantastic result and one we can rightly take pride in. We have an open, fair and honest society where corruption is not tolerated. The trial and conviction of former MP Taito Phillip Field can only add to this perception.

To be sure, having an MP, and indeed a cabinet minister, stood down and investigated for corruption is not a good look. When he is found guilty of bribery, corruption and perverting the course of justice is nothing to celebrate.

Field, who is now facing a jail term, was greedy and allowed himself to become arrogant to the point of criminality. His greatest crime, however, is the way he squandered the trust that his community and, indeed the rest of the country, had placed in him. His continued protests of innocence in the face of overwhelming evidence against him did him no credit, and it would now be nice to see him front up and take responsibility. That done he could serve his sentence and the issue could be put to rest.

The Field scandal shows our system works. He was caught, has had a fair trial and now will be punished. His conviction comes amid a continued storm over the MPs' expenses and travel entitlements and adds further weight to calls for an overhaul of the system. Under the current regime Field, despite his criminal convictions, is still entitled to subsidised travel for himself and his wife at the taxpayers' expense because of his long service as an MP.

This is a nonsense. The rules must be re-written to say that any MP convicted of a serious crime has to forfeit their entitlements.

The reforms should not stop there. The travel allowance, which provide generous subsidies to former MPs and ministers, are an anachronism which have to be ended.

The majority of politicians undoubtedly work hard and make sacrifices in the public good. At the same time they are generously paid, they get gold plated pensions, and, after all, they stand for parliament voluntarily.

Continuing the travel privilege would be hard to justify at the best of times. In the midst of a recession when essential services are facing budget cuts, the perks are unconscionable.

After he has completed his sentence Field may indeed feel like an overseas trip to get away from it all. There is no way that taxpayers should be expected to foot the bill.

- © Fairfax NZ News