and potential prosecution over their eligibility. Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “This is exactly what we called for in the wake of the Auditor-General’s damning criticism of ‘verbal audits’ for wage subsidy recipients. Taxpayers deserve to know that $14 billion was paid to businesses who met the criteria to receive it.” “This action needs to be backed up with stronger communication from the Beehive. We’d like to see the Prime Minister stand up and send a clear message to wrongful wage subsidy recipients: ‘If you took money for which you weren’t eligible, expect to be found out. Cough up now or face serious penalties’.”