By VERNON SMALL
Hey, did you hear the one about the MPs who said they would give away control of their perks?
Yeah, right.
Last week the multi-party Standing Orders committee of Parliament unanimously decided to perform a breathtaking back-flip, unstitching a law that would have given away power over perks.
Instead they plan to grab even more control, all under the guise of "transparency".
Last year Auditor-General David MacDonald, responding to widespread public concern about MPs' pay and allowances, issued a report recommending major changes to the system.
Among his five main principles was a call to give an independent body the power to set "on the basis of clearly articulated principles, all remuneration and expenses to be reimbursed".
The first draft of the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Bill appeared to implement his main recommendations. They were also endorsed by a review group set up by Parliament, led by accountant Jeff Todd and including former MPs Stan Rodger and Joy Quigley.
The bill drew support and only two groups made submissions: the Audit Office and the former MPs' union (of which Ms Quigley is a vice-president). The latter argued that their perks should be protected.
The media could not cover the 44 minutes of submissions because an "administrative error" meant they had been given the wrong time for it.
Despite that hiccup, all seemed to be going smoothly until last Tuesday when the revamped bill was tabled. It amounted to a complete about-face.
The committee had decided it would be inappropriate for the Higher Salaries Commission - to be renamed the less threatening Remuneration Authority - to have full responsibility because it is "not directly involved in the details of parliamentary operations".
It is an argument heard before: that the public, the media (and now even the Auditor-General) do not understand the needs and nature of an MP's work.
As a result, MPs - in the shape of Prime Minister Helen Clark and Speaker Jonathan Hunt - will set more of their perks than they do now.
At present the commission sets MPs' pay, superannuation, a basic allowance (worth $7000 for backbenchers) and another 11 allowances. The Speaker sets just five allowances available to ordinary MPs, while the Prime Minister sets seven of those claimed by ministers.
Under the regime being slipped through Parliament, the authority will set only pay, superannuation, the basic allowance and office-holder allowances paid to the Speaker and his deputies.
The Speaker and the PM will set all the other perks, including accommodation and travel, although some will be radically altered to improve accountability.
All determinations will be made public.
The Speaker will also take charge of a review of travel, accommodation, attendance and communications allowances in "consultation" with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
Do we need reminding that Mr Hunt spent $29,170 on taxis in one year?
That was exposed by perk-buster Rodney Hide of Act, who hints that he may challenge the revamped law - despite his leader, Richard Prebble, being the deputy chair of the committee which changed it.
The bill's second reading is likely to be late on Tuesday, after many news outlets' deadlines. Its consideration will be late on Wednesday. Only its third reading, on Thursday, will be at a news-friendly time.
Transparency? Yeah, right.
Transparency about MPs' perks? Yeah, right
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