“Opportunity will hold its MPs to a higher standard of
transparency and fairness regarding accommodation and office
space allowances” says leader Qiulae Wong.
If
elected, the party will require its MPs to use their
relevant allowances to meet actual and reasonable
accommodation costs, paid to an unrelated third
party.
In addition, Opportunity MPs will not use
parliamentary funds to rent or lease any property in which
the MP, the Opportunity Party or its major donors have an
interest.
“Public money should support public
service. It should not be used to build MPs’ private
property wealth or channel taxpayer funds back to political
parties or their donors” says leader Qiulae
Wong.
“In effect, this policy will ensure that
Opportunity MPs living outside of Wellington will rent
accommodation while serving in the capital. Because it’s
not fair that taxpayer dollars pay their mortgage and build
their wealth.”
“Similarly, when an Opportunity MP
needs to rent office space in their electorate, the policy
will ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go towards building
property wealth for the MP, the party or
donors.”
The commitment follows renewed scrutiny of
MPs claiming taxpayer-funded accommodation allowances for
properties they own, including cases where MPs have claimed
tens of thousands of dollars a year while living in their
own mortgage-free Wellington apartments.
“New
Zealanders expect better from their politicians. It’s not
enough for our leaders to say they’re ‘just following
rules’ when the rules are wrong” says Wong.
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Wong
notes that the policy aligns well with the party’s Land
Value Tax, which is designed to shift New Zealand away from
over-investment in property and towards a more productive
economy.
“We will walk the talk on property wealth.
We’re standing to change the incentives around property
and to invest in the productive economy. So our MPs will do
exactly what we are asking of everyone else.”
If
elected to Parliament, Opportunity will seek a full review
of MPs allowances and entitlements, including those
available to former MPs and their
spouses.
“Opportunity will hold ourself to a higher
standard from day one, and we will push Parliament to lift
the standard for everyone,” says Wong.
About
Opportunity
Opportunity was founded in 2017
to address systemic barriers to fairness in New Zealand
through bold, evidence-based policy. The party advocates for
strengthening democracy, fairer tax systems, affordable
housing, climate action and investing in future generations.
For more information, visit www.opportunity.org.nz.
