Auditor-General’s Inquiry Welcome - ACT

Thursday 25th Jan 2001 Ken Shirley Media Release -- Governance & Constitution

ACT New Zealand’s Acting Leader Ken Shirley welcomed the Auditor-General’s announcement that his office would be looking into the payment of accommodation allowances to Wellington MPs.

“It is clear that Parliamentary Services’ examination was inadequate given that they are the body responsible for making the payments.

“No one has satisfactorily explained how Phillida Bunkle and Marian Hobbs managed to sign an electoral enrolment form giving their principal place of residence as Wellington and yet regularly filed claims that their principal place of residence was outside Wellington.

“Clearly their actions raise questions of integrity that have not been satisfactorily addressed by the review undertaken by the Parliamentary Services Commission.

“The Auditor General’s report should be welcomed by Members of the House of Representatives as any suspicion of wrongdoing casts a shadow over all MPs,” Ken Shirley said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media