Shane Jones cleared of corruption

Shane Jones
Shane Jones
The Auditor General's final report into Labour MP and former Immigration Minister Shane Jones' decision to grant citizenship to Chinese businessman Yang Liu or Bill Liu has found "an unfortunate combination of circumstances, but no evidence of corruption".

In the report released this afternoon, Auditor General Lyn Provost said her office found "no evidence there was any improper motive, collusion, or political interference in the decision to authorise citizenship for Mr Liu".

However the "combination of unusual circumstances and decisions" associated with the case meant it was "not surprising that questions started to be asked".

"We found reason to criticise most of those involved in different aspects of the decision-making process. In the public sector, decisions not only have to be right, they have to be seen to be right."

Labour Leader David Shearer has confirmed he has reinstated MP Shane Jones to Labour's front bench after the report.

"I referred the matter of the granting of citizenship to Bill Liu to the Auditor-General so that Shane Jones would have the chance to clear his name in the light of allegations made in the media. I am pleased that today's report does that.

"The Auditor-General has found there was no evidence of corruption, improper motive, collusion or political interference.

The report did however criticise processes followed by Ministers and officials involved in the Liu case and other high-risk cases.

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