Dr Wayne Mapp National Housing Spokesperson

24 October 2002

Why is Hawkins allowing rotting homes inquiry to stop?

National Housing Spokesperson Wayne Mapp says National is most concerned that an inquiry into why the Building Industry Authority had not acted sooner on the rotting homes syndrome has been indefinitely postponed.

"We want to know if Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins has approved stopping the inquiry and if so why. This inquiry should go ahead. Stopping it suggests that there is something to hide.

"Mr Hawkins has said he wants to focus on solutions but you can't improve the process around this disaster without finding accountability. The Minister has clearly said in Parliament that blame will be allocated. That can't happen if accountability is stopped in its tracks.

"Is the Minister happy that the inquiry has been stopped and has he approved this? The Building Industry Authority is a Government-funded industry watch-dog which is supposed to ensure standards are maintained in the industry.

"If they are fulfilling their role it is difficult to understand why they would stop this inquiry, and even more difficult to fathom why the Minister would support that," Dr Mapp said.

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