Luxon, who’s been living it up in his Wellington pad on the taxpayer’s dime, faced fiery accusations of hypocrisy from the Labour party, especially with the government tightening belts everywhere else.
Luxon’s volte-face came hot on the heels of his bold claim in Queenstown that he was well within his rights to pocket the cash. However, the backlash was swift and fierce, leading to a dramatic change of heart. Speaking to Newstalk ZB Luxon admitted the allowance saga had turned into an unwelcome ‘distraction’ and declared he’d foot his own bills from now on.
The move to repay $13,000 already paid has set tongues wagging across the nation with critics and supporters alike watching closely. Despite insisting on his entitlement and highlighting the dire state of the dilapidated Premier House, Luxon has opted to forgo the allowance, marking a significant shift in his stance.
Labour leader Hipkins didn’t mince words, slamming Luxon for tapping into hard-working Kiwis’ pockets while a perfectly good (and free) Premier House stands ready. Labour Party critics painted Luxon as out-of-touch, living mortgage-free luxury on a $1000-a-week taxpayer-funded allowance.
The PM insists however there’s no bad blood, claiming he’s just playing by the rules. But with his decision to pay back and step away from the allowance, it’s clear the pressure got too hot to handle.
