Richard Worth
National Party Justice Spokesman

17 June 2005

Worth complains to Auditor-General on taxpayer-funded union fees

National’s Justice spokesman, Richard Worth, has lodged a formal complaint with the Auditor-General relating to decisions by the Ministry of Justice and Work & Income to make incentive payments to staff to join the Public Service Association.

“In the case of the Ministry of Justice, to be eligible for the payment employees need to be PSA members by today. In the case of Work & Income, the relevant date was 13 May.

“In effect, what is happening is that there is a transfer of taxpayer money to a union which has the avowed political aim of supporting the Labour Government.

“There is nothing subtle about the purpose behind these payments, and it is completely inappropriate for taxpayer money to be used in the present propaganda campaign by the PSA, “ Mr Worth says.

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