$1.5 Million Family Violence Contracts 'Mismanaged'
Darroch Ball MP
Spokesperson for Social
Development
16 MARCH 2017
$1.5 Million Family Violence Contracts ‘Mismanaged’
Doubts have been raised about $1.5 million of contracts let to inform Pacific people about family violence, says New Zealand First.
“It appears they were mismanaged by the Ministry of Social Development, and were a waste of taxpayers’ money,” says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Social Development, Darroch Ball.
“New Zealand First is concerned that the three contracts given to Pacific Media Network did not fulfil the requirements.
“We have asked the Auditor-General to investigate.
“When we raised this in Parliament, Minister of Social Development Anne Tolley was dismissive and claimed no knowledge. However, responses we received under the Official Information Act indicate mismanagement of the contracts by the Ministry of Social Development.
”The day before the release of the information to us the Deputy Chief Executive of Community Investment for the Ministry of Social Development attempted to explain away the issues.
“We believe there are issues around potential breach of contract, potential financial inconsistences and lack of measurable outcomes.
“The contracts between the Ministry and the Pacific Media Network were for the delivery of targeted family violence messaging to Pacific communities as part of the Pasefika Proud Campaign and covered a period from 2012 to 2016,” says Mr Ball.
ENDS