Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:16177] 
11.  
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
 to the  
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector 
: What progress have Crown solicitors enlisted by the Department of Internal Affairs made in the decision to proceed with prosecutions of 32 groups that allegedly invented fake projects and defrauded the taxpayer-funded community grants scheme of $150000? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) 
: 
 An investigation report has been completed and the Crown solicitor has been formally instructed to review the investigation files with a view to prosecution. Until that process is completed I will not comment further. I take any complaint of misuse of public funds seriously. I will do everything reasonably possible to recover money used unlawfully and will seek criminal prosecution against those responsible. 
Katherine Rich 
: Can the Minister confirm to the House that grants made by the Counties-Manukau distribution committee in November 2002 “are the subject of an investigation.”? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I will confirm that some of the grants issued by the Counties-Manukau group are subject to an investigation. 
Tim Barnett 
: What purposes is the Government pursuing in continuing to fund the Community Organisations Grants Scheme? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: The Government is committed to supporting strong communities. The scheme has proved its success in supporting local communities in the past 17 years. For example the Community Organisations Grants Scheme supports Otago communities with grants such as those to the South Otago Plunket the Milton Elder Care Group the Oamaru Stroke Support Group Youthline Otago The Salvation Army and the Dunedin Citizens Advice Bureau. I am sure any MP would wholeheartedly support the Community Organisations Grants Scheme for the excellent similar work being done in his or her communities for constituents. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why was the entire committee of the Waitakere Community Organisations Grants Scheme—12 elected representatives—asked to resign in 2002; was it because of allegations of conflict of interest and in particular the awarding of grants to organisations that those committee members had links to? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I do not have any specific information on that matter with me at this moment but I will have the matter investigated and respond to the member as soon as I am able. 
Katherine Rich 
: Can he explain to the House and to the taxpayers of New Zealand why in answers to my written questions asking what $580000 worth of Community Organisations Grants Scheme funding had specifically achieved he could not list any achievements whatsoever and does he accept that with his present oversight of the Community Organisations Grants Scheme he is starting to make the Community Employment Group scheme look good? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: That member has asked over 110 questions of significant detail. The actual work involved to get all those answers on time would cause a huge disruption to my department. That member is driftnet fishing. Of course in all of those schemes the money that is granted goes back to the local community and each organisation has to front up individually to its community to explain what it has done. The Community Organisations Grants Scheme is outstanding and that member knows it.