David Cohen
Analysis - In the department of predictable news, the disclosure that the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has blown its financial budget probably deserves a place all to itself.
Photo: 123RF
Can anybody who has been following the process have been surprised by the new evidence showing that what was already the country s most-expensive ever inquiry has received millions of dollars in emergency funding after ploughing through a $56 million kitty that was meant to last it through until 2023?
On the face of it, the commission - a scourge of the managerial incompetence that in many state institutions for youngsters ran unchecked for decades in the last half of the 20th century - has fallen victim to some of the same administrative issues it exists to excoriate.
'Incredibly large and complex' abuse inquiry has cost blowout
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SunLive - Abuse in Care commission told to rein in spending
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Royal Commission into Abuse in Care blows $56m budget Katie Scotcher © RNZ / Patrice Allen
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has been told to rein in its skyrocketing spending and now has to work with Treasury to get back on track.
Documents released to RNZ show operational spending has increased by more than 80 percent in this financial year.
It has asked for three emergency funding top-ups because it had blown the $56 million budget - meant to last another two years.
But Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti, the minister responsible for the inquiry, said it was not the case of poor financial management, just a learning curve.