Judith Collins MP National Party Health Spokeswoman

29 September 2004

Judith Collins seeks briefing on health fraud

National Party Health spokeswoman Judith Collins is planning to ask for a select committee briefing about the fraud conviction of a Health Ministry contractor who stole a large sum of public money.

According to reports today, a 49-year-old contractor at the Health Ministry has been convicted after pleading guilty to stealing $2.3m through a computer payment system.

The court was reportedly told that the fraudster also tried unsuccessfully to steal another $23 million.

"The public needs to be assured that the systems put in place by the Government to protect public money are up to the task.

"Given today's conviction we also need to know that this kind of scam can't happen again.

"For the sake of transparency, I plan to make a request for officials to brief the health select committee, in private if necessary," says Ms Collins.

ENDS

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