Don Brash MP National Party Leader

11 August 2006

National won't let Labour off the hook over spending

National Party Leader Don Brash says the National Party will not be supporting retrospective legislation that lets political parties off the hook for misusing taxpayer money at the last election.

"It's not a stunt to comply with the law. It's about doing the right thing and being responsible with taxpayer money.

"The public will inevitably see irony in the fact that National has paid back what it owes, and is seeking to correct a GST error, while Labour is talking about new rules to avoid paying its bills.

"National wants to pay its debt, Labour wants to avoid it." Dr Brash says National would strongly oppose changes to spending rules to excuse Labour's half-a-million dollar raid on the public purse for the taxpayer-funded pledge card.

"Labour was questioned well before the election about its pledge card and warned about the spending. The breach was so serious Helen Clark's chief of staff could have faced criminal charges.

"For Helen Clark to now claim that the rules are unclear is transparent nonsense. Pay the money back."

ENDS

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