By FRANCESCA MOLD, political reporter
Former Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle has quit her post on a Government alcohol advisory body after an Act MP questioned whether she was picking up a taxpayer-funded pay cheque while living overseas.
Ms Bunkle was appointed to the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (Alac) in February, on the recommendation of Health Minister Annette King.
But she has never attended any meetings. She has instead participated in council sessions twice by telephone from Britain, where it is understood she now lives.
Act MP Rodney Hide said he understood that in the beginning Alac did not have Ms Bunkle's address or phone number, so it could not even send her board papers.
"That's the pattern of this Government. They use taxpayer dollars to provide sweeteners for Labour and Alliance party hacks, no matter that they can't do the job."
The Herald put questions to Alac about Ms Bunkle on Friday.
The organisation said it needed time to contact its chairman, Professor Andrew Hornblow, at the weekend because he was in the United States.
Yesterday, the council said Ms Bunkle had resigned "about the same time" the Herald had got in touch with Alac.
In a statement, Professor Hornblow said she had resigned for personal reasons.
"Ms Bunkle's personal circumstances have now changed and she will be remaining overseas for longer than anticipated."
Council members are paid $9500 a year.
Professor Hornblow said Ms Bunkle had not claimed any extra expenses.
Ms King's office confirmed that Ms Bunkle's resignation had been received. The minister did not want to comment further.
It is understood Ms Bunkle is in London with her partner John Lepper, formerly an economic adviser to Jim Anderton, now working as a consultant. It has also been reported that she had spent time in Manchuria, in northeast China.
The Herald was unable to track down contact details for Ms Bunkle yesterday.
Mr Hide said no one should be surprised that Ms Bunkle was confused about where she lived.
"She was confused the whole time in Parliament about where her actual place of residence was. The only thing that was certain was that it was to her own advantage."
Mr Hide was referring to a housing scandal in 2001 which resulted in Ms Bunkle resigning as Customs and Consumer Affairs Minister.
While a list MP in May 1997, Ms Bunkle was paid a housing allowance of up to $15,000 because she lived outside Wellington. In January 1999, she enrolled in the Wellington Central electorate but continued to receive the out-of-town allowance.
She resigned after coming under intense pressure in Parliament to explain her housing claims, but an investigation found she had not committed any offence under the Electoral Act.
Phillida Bunkle
* Co-author of magazine article which led to an inquiry into National Women's Hospital cervical cancer treatment in 1988
* Strong campaigner for women's rights, elected as a Green MP in 1996, becoming Minister of Consumer Affairs
* Resigned portfolio after a row over her claiming out-of-town allowances despite being enrolled to vote in Wellington Central
* Quit Parliament last year, saying party politics "are not my bag"
Bunkle resigns Government job
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