Hon Roger Sowry Opposition State Services Spokesperson

4 February 2000

Labour's consultants fees mount up

Labour are guilty of the ultimate hypocrisy as it is revealed that electricity inquiry head David Caygill will be paid $1500 a day to lead that inquiry.

"Before the election, any payment the National Government made to anyone for anything was criticized as being outrageous. Labour said at the time that they were going to get rid of the so called culture of extravagance.

"Now they are paying money to old mates to do work that has already been done by the previous Government.

"Labour have double standards, and they should not be allowed to get away with their hypocrisy.

"David Caygill is an obviously capable man, and you do need to pay decent money to get the work done, but paying anyone $1500 a day to head an inquiry which will do work already completed by officials for the last Government, does seem a tad wasteful.

"From a party that said they would watch expenditure, and be completely transparent in all their dealings when in Government, these payments show their hypocrisy.

"It is, once again, a case of Labour being completely critical in Opposition, and then doing exactly what they criticized, when in Government," Roger Sowry said.

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