Phil Heatley MP
National Party Housing Spokesman

28 June 2007

Does the Housing Minister read what he signs?

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is alarmed that even as late as this morning Housing Minister Chris Carter still appeared not to have read documents alleging corruption within his Department.

“Mr Carter has been sadly misinformed about the papers he signed off earlier in the week. He claims the subletting rort exposed in the documents was exposed this year – it was March last year!

“He claims the detection proves HNZ systems are working, but this case only surfaced after unwitting tenants applied to get a state house of their own, only to be told they were in one.”

Mr Heatley says the information relating to the case is only eight pages long, and today’s embarrassing gaffes compound yesterday’s Parliamentary performance.

In Parliament yesterday, Mr Heatley asked the Minister about the Official Information Act request that revealed the sub-letting situation.

‘Phil Heatley: How is it that a person can be allocated a State house in Mangere, and, at the same time, own a holiday home in Russell?

Hon CHRIS CARTER: I would welcome further information about that case.

Phil Heatley: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask you to judge whether that is a fair answer, given that the Minister gave me that information yesterday with a cover letter.’

Mr Heatley says that given the serious allegations in the papers of corruption within the Department, the case should have been ringing alarm bells in the Minister’s office.

“The fact that the Minister then went public this morning with a spurious claim about the case only just coming to light this year, when it was last year – beggars belief.”

ENDS

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