Hon Nick Smith
National Party Building and Housing Spokesman

15 December 2005

Claiming costs against leaky homeowners “callous”

National’s Building and Housing spokesman, Nick Smith, says it is “callous and indefensible” for owners of leaky homes to be further punished by being left to foot the bill for the Crown’s legal costs.

“These homeowners have suffered enough without a heartless Government trying to wring another $80,000 from them for its legal costs.

“It is blatantly obvious that the now defunct Building Industry Authority did not do its job properly and that it contributed to the problems now faced by 15,000 home owners.

“While the Government may have won the case legally, it has the moral responsibility to help these desperate families get their homes fixed.

“Dr Cullen and his Government cannot hide behind insurance and legal advisors.

“Claiming $80,000 back for Crown legal costs off these leaky home owners – many of whom have lost everything – is just another chapter in Labour’s callous disregard for the victims of this building fiasco,” says Dr Smith.

ENDS

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