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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Zed ‘vindicated’ by audit report

AMID finger-pointing and face-saving, the ACT Opposition has emerged reasonably unscathed from the audit report into the office of  Opposition Leader Zed Seselja.

The report, which began over late timesheets from staff and blew into claims of alleged fraud made in heated debate in the Legislative Assembly,  has found that “no member of staff received any unintended payment or benefit to which they were not entitled”.

“This is a comprehensive vindication of the position I have put forward from day one, including extensive statements to the public and the Assembly,” Mr Seselja said.

“I remain deeply disappointed that Katy Gallagher and the Greens chose to ignore this and push a taxpayer-funded inquiry which now has confirmed my statement to the Assembly some months ago.

“That said, I am satisfied that the issue has been categorically resolved by a respected and thorough audit team.

“However, the audit also stated that ‘criticisms expressed under the cloak of parliamentary privilege, particularly as they affect individuals, need to be considered against the background in which they are made.

“What this audit has confirmed is that ACT Labor and the Greens’ cowardly claims made under parliamentary privilege should be seen for what they were – a political attack on an innocent person.

“Katy Gallagher has engaged in an Anna Bligh-style smear campaign, and just like Anna Bligh, she could not back up her case. It has gone from being ‘the biggest scandal in Territory history” to the biggest backfire in Territory history.”


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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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