PETER WILLIAMS: Seriously Willie?

Jackson cashes in with dumb reporters

Willie Jackson is an illogical, irrational, hypocritical political clown.

(He once called me an anti-vax, climate denying racist so I figure I owe him one.)

Think for a moment about this.

Jackson, like the Prime Minister, owns an apartment in Wellington. He claims a tax-free accommodation allowance, which he is entitled to. He pays it to himself as the owner of the place he stays at in Wellington.

This is exactly what Christopher Luxon was doing until he wimped out in the face of a braying media pack.

Just under twenty other MPs have the same arrangement. They pay the accommodation allowance to themselves.

But it’s different for Willie and the others you see.

"We take that because all of us have to pay mortgages. None of us have got mortgage-free set-ups like Mr Luxon.

"If you don't have a mortgage, what on earth are you doing taking the allowance?" It might be in the rules, but I think it goes against all principles."

Is this guy for real?

Since when did your level of debt become the slightest bit relevant as to whether you claim an accommodation allowance or not?

Willie went on to say that Luxon taking the accommodation allowance entitlement showed how out of touch he was with everyday New Zealanders.

And so we go to the Register of Pecuniary Interests for Members of Parliament.

As of January 31 last year, Willie Jackson jointly owned two family homes in Auckland, a further family home in Rotorua and an apartment in Wellington.

Across the four properties he listed one mortgage.

If Luxon is “out of touch with everyday New Zealanders” Willie doesn’t have much in common with them either.

And one more thing.

When Willie is spouting this nonsense why doesn’t some political reporter have the courage to point out a few facts about his little property empire?

Oh, that’s right. Willie’s in the Labour Party.

Writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines. Subscribe to Peter William's Substack here