There is really only one thing that I need to comment upon this week and that is the use of ministerial credit cards by cabinet ministers, or should I say ex-cabinet ministers.

Shane Jones has done his colleagues a huge favour by what he did in hotel rooms at night. His enjoyment of movies has taken attention away from the spending habits of other ministers.

Everybody in government has to remember that every dollar that government spends is a dollar that is taken from another New Zealander who could themselves put that dollar to good use. I find the spending habits of some of the ex-ministers disrespectful of taxpayers.

And I don't buy into the argument that seems so current today that if you get caught and pay the money back and grovel a bit everything is suddenly OK again. It is not OK. Better judgement needs to be exercised at the point of purchase. Some ministers have shown themselves capable of doing that so why can't all of them.

It is time for a re-assertion of public morality, and that will mean resignations from Parliament.