Audit Office investigations

The Audit Office has completed 2 special review reports and these will be presented and tabled by the Minister of PERCA and the Audit Office, Hon Mark Brown to Parliament.
The reports are titled, Audit review into alleged conflict of interest by the Secretary of Health, Tupou Faireka and Dr Zaw Aung, Hospital Clinical Director and Complaint into Imported soft drinks by CITC and loss in Crown revenue.
Further, the Director of Audit, Paul Allsworth, has confirmed the Audit Office, after receiving a complaint, is currently reviewing the process by which departure tax exemptions were granted to Minister McCully’s Government delegation. About $3,190 of departure tax exemptions were granted for 58 officials who departed our shores. An audit brief into the matter will be completed this week.
Responding to a question from the media relating to the Prime Minister’s comments from Tuesday’s media briefing by the Prime Minister, stating ”that the previous Government was irresponsible in the purchase of generators for Manihiki-contrary to advice it received at the time”. Claims of that purchase being a waste of $400,000 or more and consequently, the $110,000 plus purchase of new generators, then there should be accountability over the blunder(See story page 18).
The Director responds to this query from the media, saying, ”The Audit Office has little or no knowledge about these claims and purchases, however given the concerns from the Prime Minister and the large amount of public funds allegedly allocated for this capital expenditure, the Audit Office is duty bound to check and review the circumstances surrounding the procurement, tendering and payment for these high value capital equipments”.

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister