Embezzlement and Misappropriating Public Money for Electioneering - What's the Difference?

Parliament has just gotten all but one of its MP's off the hook by passing retrospective legislation validating the misuse of public money for electoral purposes. This was in response to the Auditor-General's report 'Advertising expenditure incurred by incurred by the Parliamentary Service in the three months before the 2005 General Election', which found that all but one (Jim Anderton's Progressive Party) of the parties in Parliament had spent public money for electioneering purposes.

What's worse the legislation was passed without any opportunity for the public to comment. There was no time for allowed for a Select Committee to hear public submissions.

Donna Awatere Huata was convicted of fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice for using about $82,000 of public money to have a stomach stapling operation.

After a few months in prison, Ms Awatere Huata was allowed home detention. On her way home from prison the car she was in passed the local kura kaupapa Maori, a State-funded school. The pupils took a break from their schoolwork to wave to her as she went past. A few days later a talkback show was held in the living room of her home. Are such privileges usually allowed of common criminals?

What then is the difference between what most parties in Parilament did and what Donna Awatere Huata did?

Donna Awatere Huata spent the misappropriated money on an operation to improve her health, which it could be argued is a legitimate public expense whereas many of the politicians used public money for party political purposes.

Donna Awatere Huata and her husband attempted to cover up their misappropriation of funds by altering the books. Parliamentarians covered their traces by passing retrospective legislation without reference to their electors.

Donna Awatere Huata was an Opposition Member of Parliament. The Bill that has recently been passed was introduced by the Government.

Given her special treatment and the fact that she was in the wrong party, I have come to the conclusion that Donna Awatere Huata is a political prisoner.

How can the present Parliament, given its actions, pass laws and expect the public to respect them?