Crown Forestry Rental Trust A Gravy Train For Privileged

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley has a Private Members Bill waiting to go into the ballot which has the intention of introducing transparency into the operations of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

"This Trust has become a gravy train for litigation with highly paid consultants and the privileged few wallowing in the trough.

"The Trust receives the rental monies for the Crown forest licence holders with the capital building to over $300 million. The interest on this capital is available for funding Treaty claims.

"It is clear the vested interests have now captured this Trust and the vested interest means that it has become self-perpetuating and has removed any incentive for those benefiting from the Trust to bring the genuine claims to fruition.

"There are reports of appalling misappropriation of funds on a grand scale. My Private Members Bill would make the Trust subject to review by the Auditor General and require that it prepares an annual report to Parliament accounting for its expenditure," concluded Ken Shirley.

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