VIC: Kennett s office cleared of alleged card fraud = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
VIC: Kennett s office cleared of alleged card fraud = 2

Mr Hulls said the investigation was hampered by the disappearance of some credit card
documents.

"So, it's no surprise to me that the police didn't have enough material with which to
further pursue these matters.

"What it now means is that there's open slather on credit card abuse."

"The premier has arrogantly dismissed the fact that many of the 4,400 taxpayer-funded
credit cards have been misused," he said.

Mr Kennett had done nothing to discover where the missing documents had gone, he said.

"And as a result, he's sending out a message that if you've got a government credit card
then it's okay to use it for private purposes."

The state ombudsman found that senior staff in the premier's department failed to properly
sign for their taxpayer-funded credit cards and then endorsed their own expenditure.

Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Bill Scales has previously conceded there was
an inconsistency in the administration of credit card guidelines in a letter to Ombudsman Dr
Barry Perry.

Mr Scales has said there did not appear to be a system in place which ensured credit card
forms were completed and filed. He also conceded that one completed form had been lost.

The ombudsman investigation revealed that of about 71 cardholders, only 14 had signed
declarations acknowledging that misuse of the cards could result in prosecution.

AAP st/er/rsm

KEYWORD: CARDS 2 MELBOURNE

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.