THE Government has allocated $70 million for the purchase of new motor vehicles for the judiciary this year, but the figure is still $7 million shy of the total amount needed to fully satisfy the needs of the judges.

According to a Status Report from the Ministry of Justice, $29.5 million of the amount has already been spent, including $25 million which was slated for prior year entitlements, as the Government had decided in February to bring forward some $27 million which had originally been budgeted to purchase vehicles for judges in 2011/2012 into the current fiscal year, 2012/13.

"For the current year, only one of 10 entitlements has been satisfied, with a total of $47.4 million (approximately $7 million more than currently budgeted) required if all outstanding needs are to be fully satisfied," the ministry said in its report submitted to Parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) recently.

The vehicles include: a 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero ($4.5 million) and a 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser ($4.6 million), both delivered on February 9 this year; a 2012 Subaru Tribeca ($4.3 million), 2012 Subaru Outback ($3.9 million) and a 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero ($4.7 million) delivered on March 1, 2012; a 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser ($4.5 million); 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser ($4 million); and a 2012 Mercedes Benz ($4.1 million) delivered March 5, 2012.

Included in the invoice was a 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser ($4 million) listed as "for Attorney General".

A 20 per cent discount is applied to the cost of vehicles bought for public officers.