Goff wants top dog put on Wong case

Pansy Wong. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Labour is calling for an Auditor- General's investigation into Pansy and Sammy Wong's use of the MPs' travel perk after dismissing as a "whitewash" a report yesterday that cleared them of any serious misuse of the entitlement .

The Parliamentary Service investigation, conducted by former senior public servant Hugh McPhail, found "no evidence of systemic abuse" of the travel allowance by Mrs Wong, a former Cabinet minister, or her businessman husband.

The investigation looked into 13 international trips the Wongs made together or separately from 2000 for which they used the perk.

It found one trip, a flight from Beijing to Lianyungang, China, in December 2008, could have been in breach of the rules because when in Lianyungang, the couple engaged in private business activities.

"While this trip was unplanned and inadvertent, it could be construed as having been for a private business purpose," said Mr McPhail, who recommended Mrs Wong and her husband repay the travel rebate for that trip of $237.06 each.

Mr McPhail indicated his report was based primarily on interviews with the Wongs themselves, and he accepted that Mr Wong's involvement with Lianyungang Supreme Hovercraft Ltd was his only business interest in China.

Most of Mr Wong's travel to China was for holidays and to visit friends and family, he found.

Mrs Wong accepted the findings, apologised, and said she would repay the money. Prime Minister John Key said he was pleased with the findings, "because my view's always been Pansy's been a hard-working, honest member of Parliament".

While the report found she had made an inadvertent mistake, Mrs Wong - who is an extremely capable fundraiser on behalf of the National Party - had made "a great contribution" in 14 years as an MP, he said.

"I would like to retain her not only as a member of the National Party caucus, but hopefully one day as a minister again."

However, Mrs Wong was unlikely to return to the Cabinet before next year's general election.

But Labour Leader Phil Goff said the report was "nothing but a whitewash and a cover-up" and he called for the case to be referred to the Auditor-General for investigation.

"The report simply swallows the story as told by the Wongs, who have already been caught rorting taxpayers' money ..."

Mr Goff said he hoped Auditor-General Lynne Provost would choose to investigate the matter herself but said Labour was considering making a formal request for her to do so.

The Weekend Herald asked Mr McPhail whether he had been able to corroborate with others what Mr Wong told him about his business interests in China but Mr McPhail refused that or any other questions.

Mrs Wong said yesterday that it did not occur to her that her witnessing her husband's signature on a business document related to the hovercraft company "could be construed as personal business".

HOW THE WONGS USED THE TRAVEL PERK
* 13 - the number of overseas trips the Wongs have taken since 2001 using the perk.

* $54,149 - what those trips have cost the taxpayer.

* 5 - the number of trips Sammy Wong has gone on without his wife, including four to China.

* 358 - domestic air trips Mr Wong has taken since 1998 which the Parliamentary Service has paid for.

* $93,935 - what those trips have cost the taxpayer.