A week after Parliamentary Services cleared Phillida Bunkle and Marian Hobbs of any wrongdoing in claiming out-of-town accommodation allowances, the Auditor-General is launching another inquiry.
However, this inquiry will not focus specifically on the two ministers, a move which has angered the opposition.
The Auditor-General's inquiry will be into the payment of Wellington accommodation allowances to MPs.
But ACT spokesman Rodney Hide, says the problem is not with the rules but with the two MPs concerned.
Bunkle and Hobbs both claimed out-of-town allowances to subsidise Wellington accommodation, worth up to $16,000 a year, while they were on the Wellington central roll and campaigning in the electorate.
The Auditor General says his inquiry will be a general one and will not reopen the two Ministers' cases
Instead it will focus on which MPs were eligible for Wellington accommodation allowances and ministerial homes and how claims are lodged, processed and paid.
It will only focus on individual MPs if questions arise .
But the National MP who called for the independent inquiry wants more.
"I would be disappointed if the Auditor General did not look at the specific cases surrounding Hobbs and Bunkle," Roger Sowry said.
Both Bunkle and Hobbs say they welcome any investigation as their consciences are clear, but with the Auditor-General not focussing specifically on their cases the issue could continue to haunt the Government.
