I am shocked to learn that at the same time Marian Hobbs was campaigning for Wellington Central and claiming she lived in Willis St, was enrolled on the Wellington Central electoral roll and was calling me a ‘carpet bagger’, she was claiming $15,000 tax free as an out of Wellington MP, said Hon Richard Prebble.

“It appears Marion Hobbs’ claims for an MPs’ ‘out-of-towners’ accommodation allowance are far worse than Phillida Bunkle’s. The government claims it is investigating Phillida’s case, they should also investigate Marian’s.

“The law is clear. An MP must sign every month that they are lawfully entitled to claim the allowance, and to make such a claim without entitlement, is fraudulent.

If the claims were false similar cases in Australia show a clear precedent. In 1991, former Queensland National Party cabinet minister Geoff Muntz was jailed for 12 months when found guilty of misappropriating parliamentary expenses totalling $A4891, and Transport Minister, Don Lane, was sentenced for 12 months in prison for misappropriating $A4500 in ministerial expenses.

“I am particularly outraged. After all the personal abuse I endured, particularly from the Labour party, it now appears that I was the only Wellington Central MP putting in an honest electoral return,” said Hon Richard Prebble.

ENDS

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