Minister Proves to be a Failure on Termite Issue

Tuesday 27 Nov 2001 Owen Jennings Press Releases -- Justice, Law & Order

Once again Marian Hobbs has proved a failure in understanding a simple practical issue, and has denied residents compensation for termite damage following wrong advice given by Government bureaucrats, ACT MP Owen Jennings said today.

"The Local Government and Environment Select Committee recommended ex-gratia payments to residents - not because they had suffered termite damage as the Minister seeks to claim - but because those residents were given an assurance from a government department that their properties were free of termite infestation and then proceeded to make investment decisions based on that advice.

"The Minister conveniently chooses to overlook this matter. Residents have suffered greatly from acting on the officials' advice and were justified in making a claim.

"I share the disappointment of the affected residents. It is bad enough not getting compensation for the damage but to be ignored by the Minister for a claim when a officials had issued an "all clear" is totally unfair.

"I'm sure the residents will have noted this Government's generosity to causes much less deserving," Mr Jennings 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