News Speak readers will be familiar with the ongoing UK parliamentary abuse of taxpayers’ money whereby MPs claimed for extravagant purchases and some MPS are facing the dock over expenses fraud. One scalp claimed over this affair was Jacqui Smith (previous Home Secretary) who faced criticism after it emerged her husband watched a porn channel and charged the cost to the taxpayer!Well, it seems that the MPs of past colonies also feel that there is no problem with watching something blue and charging it to the public. In New Zealand several MPs have been caught out over the misuse of public funds and, just like in the UK, journalists are making sure that the public are aware of their MPs viewing habits!
This story is taken from www.abc.net.au/news/stories
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Several mortified New Zealand politicians have come forward to explain their misuse of public money after thousands of pages of taxpayer-funded credit card statements were released to journalists.
The most notable - the former building and construction minister Shane Jones - had to say sorry for charging 19 pornographic movies to taxpayers.
And he is not the only politician caught up in what the New Zealand media is calling the "spending revelations".
Others have been caught buying golf clubs, a bicycle and spa treatments, but unfortunately for Mr Jones, his viewing habits have attracted the most attention.
Political journalists in Wellington have been wading through cartons of ministerial spending documents dating all the way back to 2003 - all in the name of greater accountability.
Mr Jones, once tipped as a future Labour leader, has admitted he frequently watched pornography in his hotel room and charged it to his taxpayer-funded credit card.
"The reality is I am admitting that I was wrong. I am guilty of these egregious lapses. I am a pretty open kind of guy. I am fairly robust. I made a mistake," he said.
The self professed film buff is now facing up to what he calls "Shane's Day of Shame".
Not for personal use
Ministers have been warned since 2006 that their government credit cards are not to be used for personal expenses and that ignorance is no excuse.
However, Mr Jones nevertheless charged not only pornographic movies but a chartered plane trip, wine, breakfast for his family, sporting gear and CDs totalling about $5,000 to his ministerial credit card.
"I can't account for what electrical storm was going through my mind. It was wrong. I don't want to pretend it is anything other than that," he said.
"To suggest that I haven't been either humbled, humiliated and deeply embarrassed by my own potentially self-destructive act is an understatement."
Mr Jones says he has paid back the money, but documents released today say it was only after he received warnings.
"It obviously has injured my reputation and it has pummelled by creditability and I have got one or two options; to leave this kind of lifestyle, go back and earn more money and have virtually no scrutiny or admit that I have been found wanting and then plot a trajectory as to how I can redeem myself in the political world," he said.
"Only time will tell whether that proves to be the case."
