This corruption has to stop

Two weeks ago, we learned that National MP Carl Bates had hidden his interest in 25 properties from parliament's register of pecuniary interests, using the time-honoured technique of pretending that he didn't have an interest in them because he had hidden them in a trust (and while voting to give money to landlords, screw over renters, and of course reduce the bright-line test - all clear conflicts of interest). Today the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests announced an investigation into Bates' false declaration:

Labour MP Glen Bennet wrote to Sir Maarten Wevers, Parliament’s Registrar of Pecuniary Interests, asking him to investigate whether Bates had broken the rules by not listing interest in those 25 properties.

On Thursday, Wevers confirmed he would investigate.

“Having conducted a preliminary review of the request, the Registrar has determined that an inquiry is warranted,” a spokesperson said, in a statement.

If Wevers finds Bates was misleading, the issue will be sent to the Privileges Committee. Which raises the obvious question: will the penalty that body hands out for effectively trying to defraud the public be anything like that handed out to Te Pāti Māori MPs for being Māori? And if not, what does that say about "our" parliament, its legitimacy, and the behaviour it accepts and that it condemns?

Meanwhile, this issue keeps cropping up. Our political class seems fundamentally incapable of being honest with us or behaving with an appropriate degree of probity. Which in turn creates suspicions of corruption and brings the entire institution of Parliament into disrepute. Stronger measures are called for: MPs must be required to completely divest themselves of all assets beyond their homes and interests in Māori land, and shove the money in an index fund or government bonds upon election, just to ensure their minds aren't focused on enriching themselves. If they don't like that, they shouldn't pursue a career in public life.

Of course, they won't do that. Which leaves the alternative. MPs who lie about their interests are deliberately attempting to defraud the public. And they should be criminally prosecuted for it.