Labour will establish a Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund that will invest $75m a year into supporting the vital tourism economy, says Labour’s Tourism spokesperson Kris Faafoi.

“This will be funded by a $25 levy on international visitors.

National has conceded that it is wasting the time of Parliament and taxpayer’s money by supporting Labour amendments to the Statutes Amendment Bill, Labour’s Tourism spokesman Kris Faafoi said today. 

“Our amendment essentially will enact Nuk Korako’s ‘Lost Luggage’ Members Bill and will save the time of Parliament having to fully debate a piece of legislation that should never have been in the Members’ ballot in the first place.

The Government has proven it can’t address the big issues facing the tourism industry by allowing a Members Bill on lost luggage to be a priority, Labour’s Tourism spokesman Kris Faafoi said.

“Nuk Korako’s Bill drawn from the Members’ Ballot is a joke. It makes a mockery of John Key’s claim that, ‘We’re a Government that’s focussed on the issues that matter.

An Ombudsman’s report on the Paul Rebstock investigation into MFAT leaks shows the two diplomats at the centre of the case were treated disgracefully, says Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi. 

“The Ombudsman says one of the diplomats Derek Leask was not responsible for the leak and as a consequence of the Rebstock report he suffered unwarranted and adverse personal and financial consequences.

Taxpayers are forking out millions more for Government spin than they were just three years ago, Labour’s State Services spokesman Kris Faafoi says.

“The bill for public relations and communications staff by Government departments has risen $6 million in the past four years.

Getting the taxpayer to pay for his press secretary to attend a National Party fundraising dinner is the latest in a litany of rule breaking by Cabinet Minister Nick Smith, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Documents obtained by Labour show taxpayers paid $55 for Nick Smith’s press secretary to attend the National fundraising dinner in Ashburton last May.

The State Services Commissioner has given Housing Minister Nick Smith a serious ticking off for his office’s involvement in organising National Party roadshows, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Commissioner Iain Rennie undertook a review of the HomeStart roadshows and of OIA responses from Housing New Zealand following a complaint from me that these taxpayer-funded events were being used to promote National List MP Parmjeet Parmar.

Housing New Zealand has confirmed Nick Smith’s office had a hand in covering up embarrassing information exposing National MPs rorting taxpayer-funding to campaign, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Housing New Zealand has confirmed the Minister’s office blanked out sections of an Official Information Act response which exposed National List MP Parmjeet Parmar using taxpayer money to ‘raise local profile’ in the event of a by-election in Mount Roskill.

The Government needs to take a close look at practices that may be forcing Kiwis to pay more for their insurance or preventing them from taking out insurance, Labour's Commerce spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

"A report released today raises some questions around the nature of the insurance sales market and whether customers are getting a fair deal.

Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi is calling for the Auditor-General and the State Services Commissioner to investigate concerns that taxpayer money and departmental resources are being used for political campaigning.

“Documents released to Labour under the Official Information Act reveal Housing NZ staff working with ‘National HQ’ on filtering data for a roadshow to promote the Government’s Homestart scheme.