MEDIA RELEASE

AUDITOR-GENERAL REPORT SHOWS CONCERN WAS JUSTIFIED

2 NOVEMBER 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union has welcomed today’s release of the Auditor General’s report on the Inquiry into the Saudi Arabia Food Security Partnership.

"It appears our blowing the whistle on this issue was completely justified,” says Jordan Williams, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director.

"The public are owed transparency on what politicians and officials are doing with our money and what, if anything, has been achieved. Until today there has been a cone of secrecy around this deal and now we know why.”

"The deal was sold as settling a legal dispute, but there was no serious threat of legal action. It was effectively a diplomatic bribe, with politicians trying to pull the wool over New Zealanders in framing it as a settlement.”

"We think it’s a bit rich for the Government to claim this as a vindication since no corruption or personal gain was established. We never suggested that owever what we were concerned about - Cabinet being misled, obfuscation, lack of legal analysis, and a totally implausible legal threat by the Saudi party - have been proven true.”

"The Government should be deeply embarrassed by the report. It shows a complete lack of respect for process, transparency, and taxpayers."

ENDS

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is an independent and membership-driven activist group, dedicated to being the voice for Kiwi taxpayers in the corridors of power.

The Taxpayers' Union is a member of World Taxpayers Associations - the global network of taxpayers groups working together for lower taxes, limited and accountable government, and taxpayer rights all over the world.

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