LABOR has asked the Auditor-General to investigate parliamentary entitlements paid to Tasmanian Liberal MPs and senators during the tenure of ex-director Damien Mantach. The request comes after the Victorian Liberal Party repaid almost $200,000 in taxpayer money over fears it was misspent in an alleged printing kickback scheme. An internal Victorian Liberals audit found that artificially inflated invoices for printing work, paid for with parliamentary entitlements, were funnelled through a company that allegedly gave "kickbacks" to Mr Mantach. Auditor-General Grant Hehir was last week asked to investigate the alleged misappropriation of Victorian Liberal Party entitlements, to ensure all taxpayer money was repaid. In a letter sent to Mr Hehir on Tuesday, Labor MP Julie Collins requested that the audit be extended to include printing entitlements paid to Tasmanian Liberals. Ms Collins said Mr Mantach was also involved in printing campaign material for Tasmanian Liberals, including in the 2007 federal election campaign. "While this material may not necessarily have been printed under the relevant parliamentarians' taxpayer-funded entitlements, it does indicate that Mr Mantach played a role in publishing and authorising printed campaign materials for Tasmanian Liberal MPs and senators," she said. Ms Collins said the Tasmanian Liberals had already discovered Mr Mantach allegedly misappropriated $48,000 from the party using a corporate credit card. "It is uncertain whether the Tasmanian Division of the Liberal Party has conducted any internal investigation into other aspects of Mr Mantach's conduct, including any role in handling taxpayer-funded parliamentary entitlements," she said. Current Tasmanian Liberals director Sam McQuestin said the party would co-operate fully with an Auditor-General's investigation, if one was to occur. "However, given there is the potential for an investigation, I wouldn't like to make any further comment," he said. Opposition Leader Bryan Green has asked Tasmania Police to investigate the handling of the 2008 scandal, but is yet to receive a response. Meanwhile, Mr Mantach also faces allegations he later stole $1.5 million from the Victorian Liberals between 2010 and 2014.
LABOR has asked the Auditor-General to investigate parliamentary entitlements paid to Tasmanian Liberal MPs and senators during the tenure of ex-director Damien Mantach.
The request comes after the Victorian Liberal Party repaid almost $200,000 in taxpayer money over fears it was misspent in an alleged printing kickback scheme.
An internal Victorian Liberals audit found that artificially inflated invoices for printing work, paid for with parliamentary entitlements, were funnelled through a company that allegedly gave "kickbacks" to Mr Mantach.
Auditor-General Grant Hehir was last week asked to investigate the alleged misappropriation of Victorian Liberal Party entitlements, to ensure all taxpayer money was repaid.
In a letter sent to Mr Hehir on Tuesday, Labor MP Julie Collins requested that the audit be extended to include printing entitlements paid to Tasmanian Liberals.
Ms Collins said Mr Mantach was also involved in printing campaign material for Tasmanian Liberals, including in the 2007 federal election campaign.
"While this material may not necessarily have been printed under the relevant parliamentarians' taxpayer-funded entitlements, it does indicate that Mr Mantach played a role in publishing and authorising printed campaign materials for Tasmanian Liberal MPs and senators," she said.
Ms Collins said the Tasmanian Liberals had already discovered Mr Mantach allegedly misappropriated $48,000 from the party using a corporate credit card.
"It is uncertain whether the Tasmanian Division of the Liberal Party has conducted any internal investigation into other aspects of Mr Mantach's conduct, including any role in handling taxpayer-funded parliamentary entitlements," she said.
Current Tasmanian Liberals director Sam McQuestin said the party would co-operate fully with an Auditor-General's investigation, if one was to occur.
"However, given there is the potential for an investigation, I wouldn't like to make any further comment," he said.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green has asked Tasmania Police to investigate the handling of the 2008 scandal, but is yet to receive a response.
Meanwhile, Mr Mantach also faces allegations he later stole $1.5 million from the Victorian Liberals between 2010 and 2014.
