The Labour Party has taken the plunge and tackled the Government in Parliament over Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and his ministerial housing allowance.
After questions about how much he was claiming, Mr English last month decided to repay more than $12,000 and downgrade his housing allowance.
Radio New Zealand's Parliamentary chief reporter says the opposition has been reluctant to bring the issue to the House, wary in the knowledge that all MPs are vulnerable when it comes to scandals over parliamentary expenses.
At issue is whether Mr English has a 'beneficial' interest in the trust that owns his family home in Wellington.
Labour's Pete Hodgson claims he still has an interest as a 'settlor' of the trust, and challenged him on Thursday to release the trust deed.
Mr English's ministerial colleague, Gerry Brownlee, dismissed the accusations as a 'pathetic' political attack.
