ACT Party Cleared

The ACT Party has been cleared of wrong doing involving out-of-Parliament offices.

ACT New Zealand Leader Richard Prebble revealed today he had received a draft report from the Auditor General's office.

MPs Winston Peters, Rod Donald and Donna Awatere-Huata, who sought an inquiry into the use of two properties by the ACT Parliamentary Party, levelled allegations of wrongdoing at ACT. The report dismisses the need for an inquiry.

Mr Prebble said the matter had always been trivial.

"In fact, when the politicians' allegations are examined, they really amount to a claim that ACT is too efficient," he said.

"The draft I saw did have some criticisms of Parliamentary Services that I thought were a bit harsh, as the Audit Office observes that the handbook had been followed.

"The report was critical of illogical Parliamentary Service rules. The Commission and ACT were just following the rules, and ACT has called for reforms from our first day in Parliament

"We believe parties should be bulk-funded and required to account in a transparent manner.

"ACT can account for every dollar spent.

"Three different state agencies have now examined ACT's use of electoral agents. The Parliamentary Commission and Speaker Jonathan Hunt have said they have no criticism of ACT or myself. The Serious Fraud Office dismissed the complaints as trivial, and now the Auditor General has made no criticism of ACT staff or myself.

"The Speaker has received the report this week and has advised me that after he has tabled it at the Parliamentary Commission meeting on June 18, he will release the Auditor General's letter to him," Mr Prebble said.

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