Ministerial Perk - Wife’s Taxpayer Funded Council Campaign Vehicle!

Independent Citizens Candidate Mr. Mark Kunnen today called upon the Prime Minister Helen Clark to pull into line the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Carole Anderton indiscriminate use of a mufti Ministerial self drive car as some sort of taxpayer funded Council Campaign Billboard.

“Ministerial self drive cars were never intended as perk to be used as a Council election campaign car” said Mr. Kunnen. “They are provided to assist a Minister to fulfill their duties, that does not include your wife’s or anyone’s Council election campaign or business use.”

“If the Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton continues to allow his mufti Ford Falcon Sedan to be used a as campaign vehicle for Carole Anderton then the Prime Minister will have no option but to intervene” said Mr. Kunnen “Such an abuse of a parliamentary perk only further reinforces the publics belief that there is little, if any control on the excesses of public office.”

“If a Minister’s wife owned or operated any business other than being employed as a City Councilor would that be an acceptable use of a Ministerial car?” asked Mr. Kunnen. “In the last year Carole Anderton earned $60,975 form various Council sources. If she operated a taxi business or worked as sales representative would that be acceptable use of a Ministerial car?”

“Why should an Alliance Party Candidate standing in Spreydon be provided with a taxpayer funded vehicle?” asked Mr. Kunnen “This is the sort of largesse of public funds one has come to expect from the likes of the Philippines and Indonesia not New Zealand, where such benefits of office are not used to fund other election campaigns.”

“By using her husband’s Ministerial car, Carole Anderton brings into question her judgment and independence as a City Councillor.” said Mr. Kunnen “I would hope that she is more careful with her use of ratepayer funds and Council perks than she is with the taxpayer funded car she seems happy to continue to use for her election campaign”

“If it were not a tax payer funded car then Carole Anderton would be free to use it as she liked” said Mr Kunnen “I am sure she would be first to voice concern if a Council worker used a Council car as a election campaign vehicle to stand against Mr Anderton.”

For further information or comment please call
Mark Kunnen 025 33 09 09
[Residence 03 3584 186 - Work 03 366 9854]

Earning Source – Official Information Request provided to Mr. Mark Kunnen by the Council Secretary on the 24th May 2001. Cr. Carole Anderton received a Council Salary of $31,820, Council meeting fees of $23,865, Community Board meting fees of $3,625 and Directors fess of $1,665 from the Canterbury Development Corporation.

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