Nelson Mayor Nick Smith welcomes the decision of the Auditor-General not to prosecute Councillor Lisa Austin and is pleased he made the decision so promptly.

“It enables Cr Austin to get on with her job, avoids public money being wasted on daft interpretations of an outdated law and enables the community to be fully represented around the Council table,” Mayor Smith says.

The Office of the Auditor-General wrote to Council late this week advising: “We are satisfied that a prosecution would not be in the public interest and will not institute proceedings against Ms Austin”. They also said: “We plan to write to the Minister of Local Government and the Department of Internal Affairs to once again urge them to consider legislative reform.”

Mayor Nick says: “This outdated law is difficult to interpret and there are differing legal views on its application. There will be many Mayors and Councillors across the country, like Cr Austin, who could be caught by this archaic act. I will also be writing to Ministers of Local Government and Regulation urging that this ass of a law be replaced.”

Cr Austin says the Auditor-General’s decision not to prosecute has lifted a great weight from her shoulders.

“It’s been very distressing, and I am pleased it’s been resolved. Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I look forward to getting back around the Council table and working for the residents of my community as I was elected to do,” she says.

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