(02-03-2024, 02:58 PM)dken31 Wrote: Making use of the entitlement was politically naive. However, I care less about a sitting PM getting that allowance than I do about Ardern, Key, Clark & Bolger (and any other ex-PM who did at least 5 years) all each getting a bit more ($54.5K) each year for doing nothing. Palmer & Shipley also get lesser amounts each year.Ongoing perks for ex-Heads of state is standard practice internationally so not easily contested. The bigger faux pas in Luxon's claiming entitlements to their maximum degree is the contrasting behaviour of his recent predecessors with Ardern putting up with the inadequacies of Premier House and just getting on with it and Key forgoing his PM salary entirely based on his existing level of wealth.
Also, I have no idea how generous or greedy Luxon is as I don't know what he does with his money. However, I can very much refute the "greedy right-wing Christian" stereotype as I see the annual donations of a wide range of clients and socially conservative Christians are the most generous by a country mile, even when ignoring any donations to their churches.
Worth noting that Luxon came onto the scene hiring a limousine to ride what was an easily walkable route, and now claiming $52K for use of his own freehold Wellington apartment and $45K for a house he purchased unencumbered for use as his electorate office. Also all too willing to pocket the CCD on his Tesla before burning that bridge for other Kiwis. Greedy, and tone deaf to the economic realities of many NZers is how he is portraying himself with no doubt more poor choices yet to be exposed in the coming months now that he has effectively painted a target on his own back.