Christopher Luxon is the first Prime Minister in at least 34 years to claim the payment as previous titleholders have either lived in Premier House or were already based in Wellington.
This just furthers my view that there should be a big apartment building to house all MPs in Wellington, and if you want to live somewhere else you can fund it yourself.
It seems like a huge conflict of interest that MPs are effectively subsidised to buy second properties, given the role that plays in our housing crisis.
Of course Luxon claiming $50k on top of his already high salary, on an apartment he already owns mortgage free, when there is a residence available is particularly egregious. Especially when contrasted with his statements about the fragile economy, not ‘treating taxpayers like an ATM’, and declaring an end to so called ‘free rides’ by beneficiaries.
This just furthers my view that there should be a big apartment building to house all MPs in Wellington, and if you want to live somewhere else you can fund it yourself.
It seems like a huge conflict of interest that MPs are effectively subsidised to buy second properties, given the role that plays in our housing crisis.
Of course Luxon claiming $50k on top of his already high salary, on an apartment he already owns mortgage free, when there is a residence available is particularly egregious. Especially when contrasted with his statements about the fragile economy, not ‘treating taxpayers like an ATM’, and declaring an end to so called ‘free rides’ by beneficiaries.