Declaring air-seat upgrades irks MP

National list MP Richard Worth objects to having to declare upgrades by airlines as part of the new register of pecuniary interests that all MPs are now required to reveal.

He also believes the register should cover others with the potential to abuse their influence and power, such as journalists, judges and some immigration officials.

But Dr Worth says he will comply with the requirement to supply a declaration under new House rules, adopted when legislation with similar requirements was abandoned by the Government.

A former Ombudsman, Judge Anand Satyanand, has been appointed the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests and has been preparing for the first register at the end of next month.

Dr Worth believes Judge Satyanand has "glossed up" the standing orders by requiring MPs to register airline upgrades.

"Airline upgrades are fortuitous results which don't follow at all from any attempt by the airline to secure a position of advantage," Dr Worth said.

When considering the areas of Government activity where corruption or improper influence might be brought to bear, one had to look at where relevant decisions were made, he said.

There was no justification for requiring Opposition MPs and non-ministerial Government MPs to have to make disclosures, he said.

"If they are to be caught up, then the net with some justification could perhaps be spread more widely - what about judges and what about journalists?"

He also thought immigration officers with discretion and public servants involved in procurement decisions could be potential offenders.

Asked why the news media should be covered he said: "The press are powerful influencers of public opinion and because politicians are hugely influenced by public opinion there is the potential for risk that the media, and a particular individual in the media, could drive the political process."

Judge Satyanand said yesterday that, "with great respect", Dr Worth was not right.

"There's no glossing; it's just a case of working through each individual circumstance."

Only upgrades valued over $500 needed to be declared.

He agreed with Dr Worth that airline upgrades were fortuitous events, but added, "When you think about it, all gifts can be fortuitous events. You have just got to apply what is the common sense in the circumstances."

A gift from a spouse was hardly likely to lead to a conflict of interest and "one would be lacking common sense to insist upon on that being registered".

"But if one, for example, was on the foreign affairs select committee and received a Christmas present from the King of Tonga, that might be something the member thought registrable.

"Once it is registered the job is done and everyone knows."

As the deadline for the first register approaches, MPs have been given forms to fill in based on a snapshot of their assets and interests on January 31. The standing orders requirement to declare a conflict of interest remains in force.


What register must include
*Directorships, shareholdings and other business interests, real estate, superannuation schemes, gifts and hospitality over $500, non-parliamentary travel and accommodation funded by private interests, sources of other employment and fees, trusts membership, membership of bodies seeking Government funding, debts of more than $500 paid by someone else for the member, creditors to whom the MP owes more than $50,000, complimentary membership of airport lounges, airline upgrades, and services provided to an MP at no charge, such as work on homes. Amounts and values are not required to be declared.

How it works
* MPs must declare interests and assets by February 28, based on a snapshot as at January 31.
* Register operates on honesty system: MPs cannot be made to declare under House rules adopted in August.
* Register to be published within 90 days under those same House rules.
* Complaints about non-compliance can be made to the Auditor-General, which may result in a report to Parliament under the rules.
* The Speaker of Parliament may refer related matters to the privileges committee to determine if the MP is in contempt of the House and what remedies to take.