Heat turned on Rice
POLLIE MAIL FAIL Call to investigate election flyer funding
LABOR’S shadow special minister of state has called for an investigation into a Greens senator’s use of taxpayer funds to produce flyers spruiking a Geelong council election candidate.
Senator Don Farrell yesterday demanded the Federal Government launch an investigation into the possible “inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money” by Greens senator Janet Rice.
Senator Rice had used funds from her parliamentary communications budget to produce and distribute letters that appeared to spruik Greens candidate Sarah Mansfield.
“Our local governments across Victoria need councillors with honesty, integrity and a desire to work in the local community. You can trust Sarah to be that for you,” Senator Rice said in the letter.
The mailouts could consti- tute a breach of official parliamentary entitlements rules.
Senator Farrell said yesterday: “Special Minister of State Senator Scott Ryan should immediately initiate an investigation into the inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money.
“The Greens know the rules and if they’ve broken them they should face the consequences.”
Senator Ryan yesterday did not directly respond to questions of whether he would launch an investigation into the spending.
“I am advised that the Department of Finance is aware of the document,” a spokeswoman for Senator Ryan said.
“The Department of Finance will follow new protocol for handling allegations of misuse of non-travel work expenses.”
The Department of Finance yesterday declined to confirm or deny if it was investigating Senator Rice.
An Australian Department of Finance entitlements handbook for senators states:
“Office budget expenditure on printing and communications must only be used for parliamentary or electorate purposes, and must not be used for party business or commercial purposes, or for the production of how-to-vote material.”
A spokesman for Ms Rice on Tuesday said that the letters were approved within her office guidelines, but did not say how much was spent on the mailouts or how many were produced.
Earlier this week, Corio federal Labor MP Richard Marles accused Ms Rice of using taxpayer funds to further the Greens’ cause.
Ms Mansfield said that said the mailouts were initiated by Senator Rice’s office.