Carter breaks Labour gag on spending

Chris Carter said visiting a country for two-days of back-to-back meetings was not always fun. File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Labour MP Chris Carter has defied a gag and come out swinging after facing criticism as his party's second biggest spender.

In his blog, Mr Carter said the caucus "made a decision" that only Trevor Mallard, the party whips and leader would comment on expenses.

"I'm loyal and - hard as it's been to resist persistent baiting from journalists to 'stop hiding' - I've been a loyal team player and remained silent," Mr Carter said.

In the blog, Mr Carter focused on his spending while he was a minister in the previous Government but made no mention of the $57,137 on airfares, $14,476 for surface travel and $10,667 on Wellington accommodation he has spent so far while in opposition.

He said people could see some of the places he has visited by going to his website.

"There you can see the names of some of the more than 300 schools and ECEs [Early Childhood Education centres] I visited as Minister of Education, and some of the more than 200 events I attended as Minister of Ethnic Affairs. I once went to eight Ethnic festivals in Auckland on one Saturday!" Mr Carter wrote.

He also criticised journalists.

"Journalists were told that last year I went on eight international trips. Shock horror! Of course it's not much fun visiting a country for two days, with back to back meetings and speeches - especially with flight times sometimes as long as 17 hours!

"These same journalists seem to forget that, as Education Minister, part of my job was to help foster the flow of international students - a business currently worth $2.3 billion dollars each year, and our fifth largest export industry! Never let facts stand in the way of a good story, journalists!"

- NZ HERALD STAFF