Phil
TWYFORD
Auckland Issues Spokesperson
11 October 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Transparency needed from Auckland Transport
Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson is calling on Auckland Transport to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding
today’s revelation that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating allegations of corruption in its road maintenance
operation.
“Auckland Transport should front up and explain to the ratepayers what is going on here,” Phil Twyford said.
“It is not good enough to hide behind the Serious Fraud Office investigation.
“Auckland Transport spends about half of Aucklanders’ rates. The suggestion there has been corruption in the awarding of
roading maintenance contracts is disturbing, given the agency spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year on
behalf of ratepayers and taxpayers.
“I want Auckland Transport to provide the public with a more comprehensive briefing, including an account of how
extensive the alleged wrongdoing is, what departments are affected, and how much money is involved.
“The public deserves to know how long the alleged offending has been going on, and what has been disclosed to the board
of Auckland Transport and to the Auckland Council.
“Presumably there are private companies now being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. The public should be told
who they are.
“None of this needs to cut across the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, but there is a basic level of
accountability and transparency that Auckland Transport needs to meet, given it is the steward of large amounts of
public money.”
ENDS