The alleged
use of taxpayer funds to purchase a
television which ended up in a National MP’s home is a
criminal matter, says the New Zealand
Taxpayers’
Union.
Union
spokesperson Jordan Williams says, “Using a work account
to buy a television for your home is fraud. If these
allegations are correct they should be with the Police, not
held in a Parliamentary cone of silence. The television
needs to be impounded as evidence of crimes against the
taxpayer.”
“This is why transparency is so
important. The only reason we’re reading about this in the
news is because the MP’s staff member bravely acted as
whistleblower. In most cases, employee loyalty would keep
this kind of spending under wraps, which is why the Official
Information Act needs to be extended to the Parliamentary
Service so taxpayers can audit MPs’
offices.”
Information on the whereabouts of the
television can be provided to Crime Stoppers or via the
Taxpayers’ Union’s confidential
tipline.
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