NSW: Rees defends his personal camera man

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2009
NSW: Rees defends his personal camera man

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - NSW Premier Nathan Rees has defended the cost of his personal
TV camera crew after it was revealed it cost taxpayers almost $20,000 in just two months.

Documents obtained by the state opposition under Freedom of Information laws show the
filming has cost $18,936 at a time when families and businesses are feeling the squeeze
of the global economic downturn.

"While Nathan Rees is indulging his own vanity, families are struggling to make ends
meet, and businesses are contemplating laying off workers because of NSW's high taxes,"

opposition frontbencher Chris Hartcher said on Thursday.

But Mr Rees has defended the spend on the film crew, hired to record his announcements
in February and March, saying the film clips are posted on his website and allow the public
to see what he is up to.

"It's occasional filming; I'm not followed all day every day," Mr Rees told reporters.

"It's about transparency and I believe the taxpayers of NSW are entitled to know what
I do day-to-day and that's what this is all about."

AAP nr/hn/jnb/cdh

KEYWORD: CAMERA REES

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