Cut up the cards

Tracy Watkins reports:

Free-spending government ministers rorted their taxpayer-funded credit cards against the backdrop of a Yes Minister culture.

As former Labour ministers lined up to justify their spending – including a $300 tour of the Taj Mahal, a month-long, $22,000 tour of Europe and a five-hour taxi ride – Prime Minister John Key has told officials to show no mercy from now on.

“I’ve said to them it’s got to stop … They should be cutting up the credit cards of people who use them [inappropriately].”

This should make a significant difference. Ministerial Services officials have not in the past been able to do much but send letters and e-mails reminding Ministers of the rules. If the PM gives them the authority to cancel a credit card if there is repeated mis-use, then that will be effective.

Equally effective is the decision to open them up to scrutiny. Knowing they will now be released quarterly, will provide a strong incentive to make sure costs are not only within the rules, but are reasonable.