The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been criticised again for its "extravagant" spending, this time for taxpayer-funded hair straighteners for staff.
Labour has got itself into a lather over the how much the super ministry has spent on its new Wellington headquarters on Stout St.
Though the revamp came in $2 million under budget, the ministry has been criticised for spending money on several big-ticket items including $140,000 on a public information screen and almost $70,000 on a stone sign outside the building.
- Read more: MBIE spends nearly $16M on new HQ
Labour's economic development spokesman David Clark question Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce about whether the spending was in line with the Government's agenda to trim its costs.
"I'm disappointed with both the cost of the public information screen and the outside sign. As I've said publicly, I've spoken to the chief executive of MBIE and made clear my disappointment," Mr Joyce said in the House.
"It's important these two items are put in context of savings of $40 million over 20 years by being located in single head office which comes from a 31 percent reduction in office space."
When questioned about whether the hair straighteners were a good use of taxpayer money, Mr Joyce quipped that it wouldn't be of use to either of them.
Mr Clark also says the building's new reception desk cost $74,000, while $260,000 was spent renovating a rooftop sun deck.
The department also spent $10,000 on pay television subscriptions last year.
"It shows just how wasteful National in Government has become," he says.
"Steven Joyce’s attempts to distance himself from the spending are just not credible. He is a micro-managing minister who chooses the colour and layout of his glossy pamphlets."
Earlier today, MBIE chief executive David Smol says admits the ministry paid too much for the stone sign and the screen.
"While we can't change these past decisions, I have assured the minister for economic development that I am putting in place arrangements to make sure any significant projects have additional oversight so that costs incurred are justifiable and an acceptable use of public funds."
Mr Joyce says any future large building projects will have addition oversight in terms of spending.
3 News
source: newshub archive
