National is
looking for support from all political parties as it pushes
for an urgent select committee inquiry into alleged
corruption at the Ministry of Fisheries.
“This goes past
party politics,” says National’s David Carter, who chairs
the Primary Production select committee, which meets later
today.
”The scampi fishery’s worth more than $100 million
and these allegations against the public service are some of
the most severe ever levelled.
“It needs to be tidied up
as soon as possible, until then I think every employee at
the Ministry is now under suspicion,” Mr Carter says.
The
comments relate to claims that a fisheries officer was paid
to leave the Ministry nine years ago while investigating
alleged misreporting of scampi catches.
“There’s urgency
now I think for New Zealanders to be assured there is no
corruption within the Ministry of Fisheries.”
Mr Carter’s
already drafting the terms of reference for any inquiry,
although it requires the support of other parties if it’s to
get the nod at this afternoon’s select committee
meeting.
“Even though some of the events took place while
National was in Government we believe there needs to be
transparency on this.
“I believe it’s in the interests of
all parties to make sure that a multi-billion dollar
industry is not tarnished by allegations of corruption,”
says Mr Carter.
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