The Labour Party is accusing the Government of double standards for refusing to pay for legal representation for the families of those killed in Christchurch's February earthquake.
Its earthquake recovery spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove says at the same time the Government is paying $1000 a day to members of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority Review Panel (CERA).
Mr Cosgrove says he's not arguing against members of the review panel.
But he says at a time when the Government is refusing to pay for basic legal advice for victims' families, its double standard in relation to panel members is even more unacceptable.
Mr Cosgrove says the earthquake victims' families deserve independent legal counsel to represent their interests during the Royal Commission into the deaths on 22 February.
And he says the Government should help the families pay for the legal fees.
CERA chair gets $1400 a day
Documents released under the Official Information Act to a blogger show the three CERA panel members, including former National party leader and Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, will be paid $1000 a day, and the chair, Sir John Hansen, $1400 a day.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee appointed the panel to review the authority's decisions and advise him.
He said in a statement that the review panel members are paid roughly the same fees as the former Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commissioners, and those fees reflect the high calibre of the panel's members.
Mr Brownlee says the standard fees set out in the Cabinet fees guidelines were considered inadequate given the importance of the job, and the higher fees had the full support of the State Services Commission.
He says "exceptional times require exceptional measures".
