Sue Moroney
List MP based in Hamilton
Transport Spokesperson
ACC
Assoc. Workplace Relations and Safety
MEDIA STATEMENT
21 February 2017
Fraudster hired despite previous conviction
It’s a matter of concern that fraudster Joanne Harrison was hired by the Ministry of Transport despite a previous
conviction, says Labour Transport spokesperson Sue Moroney.
“At today’s sentencing of the former Ministry’s senior manager the Judge, Sanjay Patel, made it clear that Harrison had
been charged with fraud related matters in 2007. She was hired by the Ministry of Transport in 2011.
“I question how the Ministry of Transport employed her and then promoted her to a senior manager’s role with a high
financial threshold delegation, without discovering any of these concerns about her.
“The Minister Simon Bridges knew about this in April of last year but he didn’t inform the Prime Minister until 20 July
just before I raised the case after being approached by a whistle-blower. I passed this information on to the Serious
Fraud Office.
“It also emerged in the summing up that Harrison had started offending in the year before she was made a senior manager
and given wide financial delegations.
“It’s satisfying to see that Joanne Harrison had to return to New Zealand to face the charges.
“However the Judge also noted that the full sum of money that has been lost, may never be recovered.
“New Zealand’s taxpayers need to be assured that the same mistakes won’t be made again,” says Sue Moroney.