Labour spending report now with Crown Law

Crown Law says it has received the police report on an investigation into Labour's overspending during the election campaign.

Labour has come under sustained attack from National and Act over its use of $446,000 of taxpayer money from Prime Minister Helen Clark's leader's budget for the party's credit card-sized election pledge card.

The opposition parties have accused Labour of using taxpayer money for a private election "slush fund" and have called for the money to be repaid.

The Electoral Commission referred Labour's election spending to the police after it was deemed the money should be included in Labour's spending, which would push it about $400,000 over the legal limit.

A Crown Law spokeswoman said a police report had been received in order for the agency to give advice on whether a prosecution should take place.

There was a definitive timeline to the process and the final decision on whether a prosecution should be taken would be made by police, the spokeswoman said.

As well as looking at Labour's spending, police are investigating National for breaching the cap on its broadcast advertising after it failed to account for $100,000 in GST.

Numerous minor parties are also been scrutinised by the police over their spending and in particular the use of their Leader's Fund for promotional material.

- NZPA