Top QC appointed in Bridges leak probe
Parliament’s Speaker has appointed a leading Queen’s Counsel to investigate the leak of National Party leader Simon Bridges’ expenses.
Speaker Trevor Mallard has announced former solicitorgeneral Michael Heron will head the independent forensic investigation, but the breadth of his mandate is yet to be announced. It is expected to be wide sweeping, however, to catch the culprit behind a politically motivated attack on Bridges’ ahead of the public release of all
MPs’ expenses.
Bridges’ Crown car use and accommodation expenses were singled out in the media, following a leak to Newshub that he had spent $113,000 in a threemonth period, coinciding with his national roadshow to meet people in the regions as the new National leader.
That broke down to about $919 a day, although because he was not a minister the cost of a Crown car was more expensive than normal for him. That’s something that had also caught out Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the past, racking up an $80,000 bill when she was Opposition leader.
Bridges was also a Taurangabased party leader, so having a higher travel bill on average than his Auckland-based or Wellington-based counterparts, was not unusual.
But the leak of his details was considered a serious breach of trust, and while fingers had been pointed in all directions, it Auckland’s SkyPath is fully funded by the Government, but Transport Minister Phil Twyford cannot say when the walk-andcycleway across the Harbour Bridge will be finished.
Previously, SkyPath was going to be a public-private partnership, but it crash-landed in early 2017, when the council’s construction partner Downer pulled out, saying it no longer agreed with the fixed price set for the contract.
Twyford and Acting Associate Transport Minister James Shaw announced yesterday the Government intended to fund SkyPath, as part of a $390 million investment in walking and cycling projects nationwide during the next three years.
‘‘SkyPath is a transformational project that will give Aucklanders the freedom to walk and cycle from the [North] Shore to the city, all while taking in an amazing view,’’ Twyford said.
But Twyford would not say if Auckland would have SkyPath in time for the 2021 America’s Cup. seemed most likely to have come from either within Parliamentary Service, or within National.
Mallard has said the investigation was necessary because it was a security breach.
Heron was experienced in conducting ‘‘high-profile inquiries relating to integrity and conduct’’.
‘‘I have appointed him following consultation with the leader of the Opposition.’’ Bridges had asked for a formal inquiry.