Gerry Brownlee MP National Party Deputy Leader

12 January 2006

Extra tax subsidy for Greens must end

National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee says the extra taxpayer subsidy Helen Clark's slipping to the Greens must stop.

Today, it has been confirmed that one of the Greens tax-funded advisors is the Green Party chief of staff.

"This is nothing less than a backhander to keep Labour's preferred coalition partner happy. It's an extra subsidy that should be stopped dead in its tracks."

Mr Brownlee has secured an Auditor-General's investigation into the appointment of the two advisors, funded through Ministerial services.

"The Greens aren't Ministers and they won't be answering questions in Parliament. If Helen Clark wants to keep them happy she'll have to dream up something else.

"The public would expect these tax-funded advisors to be providing expert advice on energy and buying New Zealand made, instead what the taxpayer has ended up getting is a salary subsidy for the Green Party chief of staff.

"This was money ear-marked for one purpose and it is being used for another.

"At best this is highly unethical, and at worst it's illegal," says Mr Brownlee.

ENDS

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