Sometimes our politicians, be it in their hunt for a headline or to cause a bit of mischief for their opponents, don't really consider the full consequences of their actions.

One such occasion was around seven years ago when the new National Government encountered an OIA from the DomPost on ministerial expenses. This OIA had, for a number of years been a regular for our friends at the Dom' and the then Labour Government, had just as regularly ensured it was answered in a way that could cause it as little fuss as possible. Overall figures were put out but any specifics, such as what was actually charged up on the Ministerial plastic was kept a closely guarded secret.

Well the National Government, seemingly unaware of this tactic, released the full material. Merry hell ensued as press gallery reporters came across evidence of golf clubs, mountain bikes, expensive bottles of wine, and even porn being charged up to the taxpayer. A great time was had by all, except for those former Labour Ministers who were left with some explaining to do. (This may have been the National led Government’s intention in the first place)

However, the release of the information set a clear precedent and ever since, every three months, journalists have been getting to go through ministers' spending with a fine tooth comb. Possibly unwittingly the Government set itself up to a level of scrutiny it probably hadn't really intended.

How is this relevant now? Well it seems Parliament’s “Mr Sensible", United Future Leader Peter Dunne may have just done something similar. Last week he outed himself as having had two speeding tickets in his ministerial self-drive car. His confession, he said at the time, was because of an Official Information Act request submitted by yours truly. Now the interesting thing here is that OIA hasn't yet been answered as Ministerial Services has been fighting tooth and nail since August of last year not to release details about speeding fines incurred by Ministers in their self-drive cars. The matter is currently being investigated by the Ombudsmen but no final determination has been made.

For some reason, possibly that of gaining a headline (which he definitely got), Peter Dunne jumped the gun and volunteered information before he really had to.

I must admit initially I was a little annoyed because no reporter likes having a story shared with their competition like this. But upon reflection I now think Peter Dunne may have done me a very great favour. For, by voluntarily releasing details about fines he's had in his self-drive car, he’s set a precedent and perhaps it’s one that will result in the records of his fellow ministers being made public.

I'm sure they'll just love that.

Felix Marwick is Newstalk ZB's Chief Political Reporter.