“… The rules on the use of ministerial credit cards are so lax that an $800 lunch for two would not even be queried by officials.
Credit card receipts released yesterday tell a story of government ministers thinking nothing of racking up bills for hundreds of dollars worth at a time of alcohol, food and other expenses on the taxpayer –
- including personal items such as golf clubs, new clothes, movies and massages.
The political future of rising Labour star Shane Jones is in tatters, with ministerial credit card receipts showing he billed pornographic movies to the taxpayer.
Often tipped as a future Labour leader, Mr Jones refused to resign over the scandal but appeared to leave the door open, saying he did not want to make any decisions in the heat of moment.
He publicly confessed to the spending after telling his wife early yesterday.
She was “injured and enraged” but he believed the family would pull through.
Mr Jones made no excuses for watching porn: “I’m a red-blooded robust dude.”
There appeared to be no limits on what ministers believed they were entitled to charge – in one case more than $800 from a bike shop –
- some apparently thumbing their noses at warnings from officials not to use their cards for personal expenses …
… regardless of whether they intended repaying the money later…”
go to source/story>>>Rules on ministerial credit card use loose | Stuff.co.nz
