An independent investigation has found no evidence of systemic abuse of the parliamentary international air travel rebate by MP Pansy Wong or her husband Sammy Wong, Parliament's Speaker Lockwood Smith said in a release today.SEE ALSO: Wong's mysteri
An independent investigation has found no evidence of systemic abuse of the parliamentary international air travel rebate by MP Pansy Wong or her husband Sammy Wong, Parliament's Speaker Lockwood Smith said in a release today.
SEE ALSO: Wong's mysterious $200,000 fundraiser
The investigation, conducted for the Parliamentary Service by former senior public servant Hugh McPhail, looked into 13 international trips made by Ms Wong and her husband together or separately since 2000.
It found that one trip, a flight from Beijing to Lianyungang, China in December 2008, could have been in breach of the Speaker’s Directions.
The report notes that while this trip was unplanned and inadvertent, it could be construed as having been for a private business purpose.
It recommends that Pansy Wong and her husband should repay the travel rebate for that trip of $237.06 each.
“Otherwise, the report found no evidence that Pansy and Sammy Wong had not complied with the Speaker’s Directions regarding private international travel,” Dr Smith said.
The report also examined the Wongs’ use of the domestic air travel entitlement and their use of an electorate office at 735 Chapel Road, Botany, Auckland as a registered office for a commercial business purpose.
“It found no evidence of non-compliance with the Speaker’s Directions regarding domestic air travel. There was also no evidence that Pansy Wong’s electorate office was ever used for a private business purpose," Dr Smith said.
“I am satisfied that the report thoroughly examined these matters. I now expect Pansy and Sammy Wong to repay the travel rebate for one trip as recommended in the report."
Mrs Wong said in a release today that she accepted the findings of the report.
“I apologise, and I will refund the level of rebate attributable to the section of the trip, which amounts to $237.06 each for my husband and myself."
“The experience of the past three weeks is not something that I would want to repeat. I am grateful for the support I have received from family, friends, supporters, and colleagues during this difficult period."
“It has been necessary for me to have time and space to go through the inquiry process in order to be able to give a factual and comprehensive account of my use of the travel rebate over the past decade.
“I am grateful to the Prime Minister for allowing that to happen.
"While it is my hope to return to Cabinet, I understand that it has to be earned, and my energy and focus now will be used to serve the people of Botany and promoting the interests of ethnic communities across our country. I am looking forward to returning to Parliament."
Prime Minister John Key has supported Ms Wong's decision not to return to Parliament or answer media questions until the release of the investigation report.
Ms Wong will conduct a press conference at Parliament early this afternoon.
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