"Pretty cautious" over Skycity deal not cautious enough

The Prime Minister's promise to be "pretty cautious" about signing a deal with SkyCity while the Auditor General's inquiry proceeds, is not cautious enough - he should promise not to sign a deal till the inquiry is over, the Green Party said today

The Office of the Auditor General yesterday agreed to a request by Green Co-leader Metiria Turei to carry out an inquiry into the Expressions of Interest Process for proposals to establish an international convention centre in Auckland.

"Both the Prime Minister and Economic Development Minister Stephen Joyce showed contempt for the Auditor General yesterday by saying they would go ahead with the deal, while the inquiry went ahead," Mrs Turei said.

"Today, Mr Key has been back peddling, instead saying he would be "pretty cautious" about signing up on a deal.

"But pretty cautious is not cautious enough.

"The Government can't possibly proceed with the deal while the inquiry is running as it cuts to the heart of the decision to choose SkyCity to build the centre.

"The public could be exposed to liability from legal challenges by other bidders who missed out in the process, and also from SkyCity who could rightly feel they'd be led up the garden path.

Four out of five Aucklanders don't like the convention centre deal as it stands, and don't want more pokies in their city.

'With the Deputy Auditor General acknowledging the deal raises issues worth investigating, the only responsible course of action is to assure the public that no deal will be signed while her inquiry is underway," Mrs Tūrei said.