7. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Is she confident that all moneys paid by the Ministry of Social Development to non-governmental organisations in the 2006-07 financial year were used appropriately; if not, why not?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The responsible Minister for Social Development and Employment reports to Parliament annually on the results achieved through funding distributed to non-governmental organisations. The report for the year in question was tabled by my predecessor, the Hon Steve Maharey, in September last year. In addition, all ministry contracts with non-governmental organisations include reporting requirements to ensure ongoing monitoring of service delivery. Providers are accountable for their expenditure and must have audited financial records. Therefore, I am confident that the systems are robust and complied with by the responsible Minister, the ministry, and non-governmental organisations.
Is she confident that funding provided by the Ministry of Social Development to the Combined Beneficiaries Union in the 2006-07 and 2005-06 financial years, funding that made up almost 40 percent of the total of the Combined Beneficiaries Union’s revenue, was spent appropriately; if not, why not?
I am aware that a number of allegations and concerns have been raised internally within the Combined Beneficiaries Union, and that the Ministry of Social Development has implemented the appropriate investigations. To the best of my knowledge no inappropriate use has taken place. If the member has any additional information I would be very keen to receive it, because like her I share the view that taxpayers’ money should be used appropriately.
Can she confirm that the serious allegations she referred to were made against the office manager of the Combined Beneficiaries Union regarding his misuse of this taxpayer funding to pay his personal bills, including dental examinations, cosmetic dentistry, tenpin bowling, and parking infringements, and how is it appropriate for this person to be living the life of Riley while beneficiaries struggle every day?
I am aware that allegations have been made about the person within the Combined Beneficiaries Union and that those allegations have been investigated appropriately. But I do not share the member’s view that it is all right to damage the good name of a person who does not have the opportunity to have the protection that we do within Parliament in the same way as she did against a man whom she made allegations about in Parliament last month, which turned out to be totally without substance. I do not recommend doing that to an individual from within this House.
Is the Minister then aware that these allegations include that this money was illegally spent on car registration and repairs on the manager’s girlfriend’s car, a microwave for his girlfriend, and accommodation for himself at two different hotels on the same night, and what action will she be taking to ensure that organisations funded by her ministry are using that funding appropriately?
I will just repeat that I am aware of allegations that have been made, and I am confident that the ministry has investigated them appropriately. Last month Ms Collins launched a particularly vicious attack against the Ministry of Social Development in the same way as she is doing, implying an action, today. That allegation turned out to be totally without substance, and I would strongly recommend against the member doing it again. She owes the ministry an apology for that, and it may well turn out to be exactly the same situation today.
Why did it taken an allegation of misappropriation for her ministry to request the Combined Beneficiaries Union to undertake conviction checks of its staff, put in place processes and procedures to prevent future allegations of misappropriation, and keep records of cases for which funds were applied—surely these are standard procedures that any ministry should be requesting be put in place before it pays out taxpayer funding in this way?
As the member and her colleague from Nelson will know, it is possible to have a conviction and still remain in employment. [ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERWell, that is one each, so let us get back to asking just the question and giving the answer without the innuendo.
From what the Minister said today it sounds as though she is not aware of some of the allegations, but has the Minister then seen this pile of documents, including invoices, as alleged, for the grocery shopping, the dental records, and the car registration; if she has not, would she, in fact, receive those and do something with them other than the personal attacks that she has just indulged herself in?
In respect of the last point, actually stating a fact is not offensive, nor is it a personal attack. I was stating a fact—that it is acceptable, in a civilised society, for a person to have a conviction and remain in employment, as was the case in the example the member raised herself in her supplementary question. I have not personally seen the papers. I do not think it is necessary for me to personally investigate, because I am satisfied with the quality of investigation undertaken by the ministry, which is aware of the allegations the member has referred to.
I seek leave of the House to table a report on the state of the Combined Beneficiaries Union accounts.
I seek leave to table the Ministry of Social Development’s letter to the Combined Beneficiaries Union stating that it was very unhappy with the situation.