1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Why has she referred the actions of the Hon David Benson-Pope’s press secretary to Ministerial Services yet taken no action against the Hon David Benson-Pope himself in relation to the selective leaking of police documents?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
Because the staff member concerned initially denied to media that his office was the source of the information in the Herald on Sunday.
Why has the Prime Minister taken no action against Mr Benson-Pope, who having delayed the scheduled release of the police file by several days, authorised its selective leaking to accommodate his own political interests, and does she accept his assurance that he was under no restraints about what he could do with the file, despite his having previously said that its release date was a matter for the police?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is a matter of judgment by Ministers as to what they put in the public arena.
Has the Prime Minister asked Mr Benson-Pope for a full explanation as to why he authorised the deliberate leaking of parts of the police file over the weekend, having previously delayed the scheduled release by the police for several days for his own political interests; if so, what was the explanation given to her?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I repeat that it is a matter of judgment by Ministers as to what they put in the public arena and what legal action they choose to take to protect their reputation.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Does the Prime Minister think it is fair that someone should be able to remember something that happened 22 or 23 years ago, when a leader of a political party in this country could not remember talking to the Brethren church 4 days ago? [ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERAs members have indicated, that question was not relevant to the original question. I rule the question out of order.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. If I were to interpose in that question whether the Prime Minister had received any reports on the issue of fairness, would it then be in order?
Did Mr Benson-Pope give the Prime Minister a categorical assurance that he had absolutely nothing to do with his press secretary’s denying any involvement in the leak of the police file, given that Mr Benson-Pope himself had clearly made a decision to authorise the leak, and has she accepted such an assurance?