MEDIA RELEASE

Curran’s excuse for $1,000 limo service is bogus

6 SEPTEMBER 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The claim that a $1,000 limo service was Clare Curran’s ‘cheapest option’ for transport in Queensland appears to be bogus, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “We’re not convinced the Minister's trip to Queensland, ‘a first-hand look at what it takes to broadcast a multi-media mega sports event’, was necessary at all, but assuming it was, you’d hope she would have ensured value for taxpayers."

“Unfortunately, she chose to use a limo service between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, costing her $529, and $537 on the return leg."

“With the Minister currently on personal leave, her staff have told media the limo was the ‘cheapest option’ available. This seems completely made up. A brief search reveals Uber’s fare estimate to be a quarter of the limo’s price.”

“Minister Curran and her staff ought to read the Taxpayers’ Union report Fare Game? Flagging down the cost of public sector taxis, which found that public servants could save taxpayers over $3 million a year just by using ridesharing services like Uber.”

Editor's note:

1) In 2015 the Taxpayers' Union criticised then-Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce for a $1,248 taxi ride in Sudney and called for Mr Joyce to pay it back, see: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/

2) The report can be accessed at www.taxpayers.org.nz/fare_.

ENDS

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