Taxpayers will stump up more than half a million dollars for the three-month inquiry that cleared Judith Collins of involvement in a smear campaign.
The inquiry found the former justice minister played no part in the blogger attacks against former Serious Fraud Office boss Adam Feeley - despite emails that suggested she was involved.
The Department of Internal Affairs says the forecast cost of the inquiry is 663-thousand dollars, but the total bill - including remuneration for the former judge who led the inquiry - is not yet finalised.
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