QC's report on Field allegations delayed

Taito Phillip Field

A lawyer's report into claims against Labour MP Taito Phillip Field has been delayed.

Dr Noel Ingram is looking into allegations against the minister outside Cabinet, involving immigrants and a house sale in South Auckland.

The first allegation, just before the election, was that the Mangere MP asked Associate Immigration Minister Damien O'Connor to direct the Immigration Service to grant a Thai overstayer a work permit. The overstayer had been tiling Mr Field's house in Samoa.

On September 21 Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the appointment of Dr Ingram, a Queen's Counsel, to investigate the allegation and others that arose.

Dr Ingram was to report by today but yesterday Helen Clark said she was not expecting a written report.

"I expect the head of my department to get some indication from Mr Ingram tomorrow how he sees the task ahead."

She said the inquiry would "take as long as it needs".

Helen Clark said every allegation that arose in the media was being referred to Dr Ingram.

Mr Field continues to hold three associate ministerial portfolios.

Asked what would happen if the inquiry was not finished by the time she was ready to announce her new ministers, Helen Clark said that would be an issue for the caucus if Mr Field was seeking election to Cabinet, and an issue for her to judge when it came to ministerial positions outside Cabinet.

Last week a South Auckland man said that Mr Field last year bought his family home - which they risked losing in a mortgagee sale - but failed to let them stay there, then sold it 16 months later for a $136,000 profit.

It was also claimed last week that Mr Field had a second Thai overstayer paint four houses in exchange for immigration help.

Mr Field has denied any wrongdoing. He has engaged lawyer Mai Chen.

Helen Clark confirmed Dr Ingram would be speaking to Mr O'Connor.

"But Mr O'Connor's very clear that he had no knowledge of any work being done for Mr Field when the matter was put in front of him."