Open mike 16/06/2024

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 15 comments
Categories: open mike


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15 comments on “Open mike 16/06/2024”

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  1. 1

    Heather du Plessis-Allan writes that MP housing allowances needs to change – not to save any money, but for appearances.

    She advocates they end payment where the MP is living in property they have an interest in (own, or their partner … or trust or … ).

    She notes that the MP could possibly rent out the property for more than they currently receive in allowance and be better off.

    Obviously there is growing concern about the fate of this government as a political class serving some and not all, so taking care of appearances to help the landed gentry team …

    https://archive.li/CDiRs#selection-2727.0-3026.0

    1. 1.1

      In the 1970s MPs used to rent and share flats near the Beehive. I've seen photos of National MPs having breakfast together at a flat. They didn't all seem to need their own house then. It's all about entitlement I reckon.

      1. 1.1.1

        The system is now designed for them to spread out and increase rental demand and therefore price.

        MPs can claim up to $36,400 a year in continuous accommodation payments if they are normally based outside Wellington, or up to $260 a night if they stay in commercial premises – or $70 a night elsewhere.

        If they share with other people, the maximum continuous accommodation payment is reduced – when living with one other person, they can receive 70 percent, with two it is 60 percent and with three, 55 percent.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/519252/what-perks-do-mps-really-get

        If it were a flat amount compensation for housing …

      2. 1.1.2

        I recall Pam Corkery mentioning flatting with other MPs in her bio – so that would have been late 90s.

    1. 2.1

      Democracy has reached the limit of any effectiveness in Israel.

      Even without Benny Ganz this coalition appears to have more options in store.

      Neither Hamas nor Netanyahu see any point in the war ending soon. It keeps both of them in power and out of jail.

      1. 2.1.1

        Ah yes, the old "necessary enemy". The polar opposites seldom really want to wipe each other out. It's the bridge-builders looking for an end to the conflict who tend to cop it.

        "War is peace."

  4. 4

    Really? I only know of 2…

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    1. 4.1

      I counted four (not including the one that was mis-typed) and that’s three more than you need and should have here.

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