Inquiry into expenses leak announced

WELLINGTON: All National MPs will be asked to sign a waiver allowing their computers to be forensically searched as the hunt for whoever leaked details of National leader Simon Bridges’ expenses to the media.

Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard announced yesterday a Queen’s counsel would be appointed to lead an inquiry, to be paid for by taxpayers, into who might have given the information to Newshub before its public release yesterday.

On Tuesday, Mr Bridges called for an independent inquiry into the leak.

Mr Mallard said yesterday he had consulted Mr Bridges and they had agreed there was an issue about security that had the potential to be serious.

‘‘If there is a gap in the Parliamentary Service I want it to be fixed and if there is not, I think it’s appropriate for the person who leaked the documents to be identified.’’

He expected the QC appointed to lead the inquiry would be assisted by an employment lawyer and someone with forensic ICT expertise.

The terms of reference would be agreed between Mr Mallard, the QC and Mr Bridges.

The inquiry would look at who had the document shown in Newshub’s report or a more general document. It would also look at who forwarded it to whom, who had access to the data and who accessed it.

Parliamentary Service computers were able to be scrutinised without permission of employees but a waiver would be developed which all National MPs and Mr Mallard himself would be asked to sign to enable access.

The evidence would identify those who forwarded the document and who printed it. ‘‘It might well be the fact that the level of expertise that is coming into it causes someone to put their hand up because unless they have incredible expertise they will be identified.’’

Mr Mallard did not put a timeframe on the inquiry.

The cost of the inquiry would come out of the Parliamentary Service budget.