Give MPs a break, says Key over expenses saga

Nick Smith has repaid $84.50 for a dinner with two journalists at Bellamy's, according to Ministerial Services documents. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Prime Minister John Key has pleaded for a truce in the ongoing saga of ministerial expenses, saying journalists should show some mercy to MPs who are within the rules even if they disagree with those rules.

Mr Key's comments come after Whangarei MP Phil Heatley resigned from his ministerial portfolios when he was found to have signed off a $70 wine purchase on his credit card as "dinner" for himself and his spouse - an error he said was unintentional.

The Auditor-General is reviewing Mr Heatley's accounts and could widen the inquiry.

Yesterday Mr Key said MPs' expenses were more transparent than before and the behaviour of MPs had changed as a result. Spending had decreased since the details began to be publicly released. However, he said the media should not ride MPs so hard for simply taking allowances - many of which had good reasons behind them.

"I think, in defence of both MPs and ministers, that the media do need to think a little about what is legitimate spending within the rules even if they don't like the rules, vis a vis someone breaking the law.

"If someone breaks the rules, they're fair game. If someone complies with the rules but the media doesn't like that, it doesn't make that person necessarily a bad person."

Many allowances such as spouses' travel or holiday perks did not look justifiable to the general public.

"And I can understand why they would say that and there have been ministers who have got themselves on the wrong side of public opinion by using that.

"But actually, that is a legitimate part of the contrAct MPs have. It might be outdated ... but nevertheless it's there."

However, even Mr Key said yesterday that Mr Heatley had appeared to push the boundaries in his credit-card spending. He believed Mr Heatley was not dishonest, but small purchases such as at McDonald's and Burger King were examples of pushing the limits.

The Prime Minister will not rule out returning Mr Heatley to the Cabinet, but said it would depend on both the findings of the Auditor-General and his own "wider perspective" - an indication that any perception Mr Heatley was maximising his entitlements could be a factor in Mr Key's decision.

Mr Heatley was also criticised for using the card while in Christchurch for a National Party conference dinner - spending which was allowed under the rules because it is considered parliamentary business but was not present on any other ministers' credit cards.

He was not the only minister to be warned by Ministerial Services about making sure use of the credit card met the rules.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee also had several "reminders" after officials repeatedly had to chase up his receipts and signed reconciliation forms.

The documents also show Environment Minister Nick Smith paid back $84.50 for a dinner with two journalists at Bellamy's. He repaid the money for the September dinner last month after Ministerial Services asked at least twice for the receipt and a reconciliation form.

A spokesman said although it was a mix of electorate and ministerial business, Dr Smith and his private secretary had decided it should be repaid.

It was reimbursed about a fortnight before ministers' card statements were revealed although a spokesman said it was not related and Dr Smith had not known about the release at that point.