Phil Twyford

Auckland Issues Spokesperson

31 May 2011

MEDIA STATEMENT

Half Billion Dollar Blow-Out on Super City IT Deplorable

The Government has overseen a half billion dollar blow-out in Super City IT costs, but won’t be held accountable, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“The Auckland ratepayer is getting hit with a $576 million dollar bill for the Super City’s new computer system, but the Government is washing its hands of any responsibility,” Phil Twyford said.

“I have asked repeatedly in the House and in select committee about the costs of setting up the Auckland Super City’s computer system. The answer I got was that the costs were $126 million: $60 million before the council was set up and another $66 million afterwards. Now it has been revealed it will cost the Auckland ratepayer another $576 million to complete the new system.

“It defies credibility that the Government didn’t know about the true costs.

“The Government has an Alice in Wonderland attitude to Super City costs. It now denies that IT costs incurred after the council was set up are part of it. The overall cost excluded redundancy costs from the old councils, recently estimated at $27 million, and has excluded the costs for setting up the transport agency.

“This National Government has done an appalling job of managing the transition to a unified Auckland. It has never been up front on the issue of the cost to the ratepayers. This I.T. blow out is the icing on the cake,” Phil Twyford said.

ENDS

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