Cheap headline
Editors know what sells newspapers - and a 'scandal' about politicians with their snouts in the trough always makes for a great banner. So, it's no surprise that the Dom Post lead today with the news that four MPs who are retiring from politics are going on an overseas trip.
I think it should be noted that even if the trip costs $15,000 per MP that each of the four retiring politicians are earning several times that amount before the election - and that if we're paying for them, they should be required to complete the duties of MPs until the election. Otherwise they should resign from Parliament and allow others to take over.
One of those duties is to act as leaders for New Zealand - meeting with foreign parliamentarians and politicians, and building trusting relationships with other nations. Obviously, this may involve MPs having to travel overseas - as it does in a number of other jobs. In most industries it's common for long distance flights to be completed in Business Class so that executives can be more refreshed and ready to do business on arrival.
Although Marion Hobbs comments didn't help, this trip is a legitimate use of the MPs time - the MPs should not be made to feel guilty about completing their duties.
I think it should be noted that even if the trip costs $15,000 per MP that each of the four retiring politicians are earning several times that amount before the election - and that if we're paying for them, they should be required to complete the duties of MPs until the election. Otherwise they should resign from Parliament and allow others to take over.
One of those duties is to act as leaders for New Zealand - meeting with foreign parliamentarians and politicians, and building trusting relationships with other nations. Obviously, this may involve MPs having to travel overseas - as it does in a number of other jobs. In most industries it's common for long distance flights to be completed in Business Class so that executives can be more refreshed and ready to do business on arrival.
Although Marion Hobbs comments didn't help, this trip is a legitimate use of the MPs time - the MPs should not be made to feel guilty about completing their duties.
posted by Michael at
8:33 PM
5 Comments:
How come these retiring politicians are visiting Europe at a time when most European politicians will be on their summer holiday break? I can't see that any good will come of these people visiting Prague, Poland etc. How many of them speak the required languages. This is a speakers junket and not a trade mission. Michael, me thinks you are sounding too much like a politician with your arguement to be taken seriously!
By
Anonymous, at 10:43 PM
The speakers tour has become an annual exercise much like all the feel-good stories at christmas...
snore.
By
The ex-expat, at 11:27 PM
I've no idea why anyone would think that a speakers tour has any merit at all. I know that the American's do them but then who would think copying them has any merit? These speakers tours seem to be something that has become a recent tradition and a bad one at that. they should be stopped completely as they have no merit at all.
By
Steven McLachlan, at 1:35 AM
These tours by Parliamentarians are reasonably common throughout the world - I remember that there seemed to be at delegation every week or so when I worked at Parliament.
They aren't just junkets to the nice beaches of the world - the MPs spend time visiting officials and host nation MPs building relationships.
And wouldn't everyone complain more about retiring MPs who didn't do any work!
By
Michael, at 8:56 AM
I think that there is certainly a place for the tours to build relationships but not for retiring MP's. what good can come of these? A certain MP for Rakaia is only being included to keep him out of sight/out of mind for a few critical months. After his "Piss off" statement on national TV I'm sure the whips will be pleased to see him dissapear over the horizon.
By
Steven McLachlan, at 2:29 AM
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