17 February 2017

Press Release: Penny Bright Independent candidate Mt Albert by-election: "Transparency breakthrough at Auckland Transport Board meeting 16 /2/ 2017."

"After a TEN year fight for lawful transparency in the spending of public monies on private sector consultants and contractors, a significant and historic breakthrough was made at the Auckland Transport Board meeting, which I addressed on 16 February 2017," says Penny Bright, proven 'anti-corruption campaigner' and Independent candidate for the 2017 Mt Albert by-election.

"I have been given an assurance from the Chair of the Auckland Transport Board, Dr Lester Levy, that on Tuesday 21 February 2017, I will receive a copy of a letter from the Board of Auckland Transport, to the CEO of Auckland Transport, David Warburton, instructing him to ensure that all future contracts awarded by Auckland Transport, worth less than $50,000, and ALL contracts that are 'sub-contracted', will be made available for public scrutiny."

"That will be 'STEP ONE'."

"'STEP TWO' will be to equally provide those details of currently awarded contracts which are still 'live', because under the Public Records Act 2005, the public are entitled to know where exactly our public monies are being spent."


http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html

17Requirement to create and maintain records

(1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
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"Once Auckland Transport provide this 'devilish detail' regarding public spending on private consultants and contractors, there will be no excuse for Auckland Council and other Auckland Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs) equally doing the same."

"How can you have transparency and accountability, without full and accurate public records available for public scrutiny?"

"'Activists - get things done'!"

"If I can help achieve such a long-awaited breakthrough in transparency, without (yet) being a 'public official', imagine what I could help achieve for the public as the fiercely Independent MP for Mt Albert."

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