Prime Minister Helen Clark is today travelling in the Tauranga and Rotorua area and will not be able to receive a copy
of the Controller and Auditor-General's report into the administration of ministerial allowances until later tonight.
Helen Clark said she would not be commenting fully on the report until she had had time to consider it thoroughly and
discuss it with Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton.
"I am advised that the report is 65 pages long and it will require careful consideration," Helen Clark said.
Helen Clark said she noted that the key conclusion with respect to Marian Hobbs was that she made sufficient disclosure
of her personal circumstances to enable parliamentary staff to advise her properly, and that she acted reasonably on
that advice when claiming the allowance.
"I note further that the finding with respect to Phillida Bunkle is that she also made sufficient disclosure of her
personal circumstances to enable parliamentary staff to advise her properly, and that she acted reasonably on that
advice when claiming the allowance."
Helen Clark said the report of the Registrar of Electors into Phillida Bunkle's enrolment was still awaited.
Ends