While taxpayers continue to wait for the result of Minister Saffin’s ‘rapid audit’ into her own misuse of public funds, the NSW Nationals will today refer the matter to the Auditor General.
Since Minister Saffin ordered the ‘rapid audit’ on Thursday, 27 August, the Daily Telegraph has exposed further instances of wrongful spending including more than $13,000 for 40 flights and $3,000 on luxury hotels for staff in Sydney.
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said we have a situation where Chris Minns has acknowledged Minister Saffin’s use of taxpayer funds was inappropriate but has so far failed to act.
“It appears the government is trying to wait this one out, so we have referred this reckless spending of taxpayer funds to the NSW Auditor General,” Mr Singh said.
Last month it was revealed Minister Saffin slugged NSW taxpayers almost $20,000 for 52 nights in luxury Sydney hotels, including $4,400 for eight nights at the five-star Sofitel Wentworth with a $530 room service bill.
“Minister Saffin told Budget Estimates this was all above board and dismissed it as a simple misunderstanding,” Mr Singh said.
“If that was the case, this would have been resolved immediately.”
On top of referring the matter to the NSW Auditor General, the NSW Nationals are calling on Minister Saffin to:
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immediately release the findings of her ‘rapid audit’;
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own up to incorrectly billing NSW taxpayers for:
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52 nights of luxury accommodation in Sydney, including a $530.94 room service tab she refused to itemise or explain
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40 domestic flights totalling more than $13,000
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11 nights of luxury accommodation in Sydney for Ministerial staff
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explain why four members of her ministerial office travelled to, and stayed in her electorate on the taxpayers’ dime at the same time as she was enjoying an eight-night, five-star stay in Sydney;
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justify charging taxpayers for hotel stays within an hour of her home; and,
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come clean on why she charged NSW taxpayers for her staff member to travel to and from their home in Canberra, and why she initially denied this was happening in Budget Estimates.
Mr Singh said this cannot be covered up as a one-off administrative error as claimed. The Government’s taking the piss.
