4. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she accept the Hon David Benson-Pope’s statement last Saturday that allegations he entered the girls’ shower block and dormitories were “a nonsense”; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
The Minister was reacting to the Investigate magazine website, which clearly contained allegations that were sensationalist. I am satisfied that issues were raised with the school that it deemed not to be disciplinary matters, but following which school policy was changed.
Is it the Prime Minister’s position, in continuing to support her Minister, that his statement of 12 May last year was correct because he had no knowledge at all of the complaint against him; if not, what is her position?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
In response to an earlier question I made it clear that I considered that the answer was an error of judgment.
Has the Prime Minister asked Mr Benson-Pope why he has stated that the recent complaints, now backed up by a letter and by the former principal, were “a nonsense”; if so, what was Mr Benson-Pope’s response?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
As I have said, the allegations on that website were sensationalist. I do not intend to go through them one by one. Anyone reading them can see that they stretch matters far beyond the letter sent by the parent.
Is the Prime Minister telling the House that she is the only person in New Zealand who does not understand that Mr Benson-Pope’s earlier denials in this House and his statements yesterday are totally incompatible, and why does she so resist coming to the conclusion that is blindingly obvious to everybody else?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The member seems determined not to take on board what I have already said today, which is that the answer was an error of judgment but I do not consider that sufficient reason to dismiss a Minister. That is a judgment I have made.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Has the Prime Minister received any complaints or material relating to other former teachers in this House, including Mr Gerry Brownlee, some of which lead to serious conclusions; if so, why has she not used that material in the public arena yet?
Madam SPEAKERI would just remind members that when members ask questions, they are to be heard in silence, and that goes for all sides of the House.
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I have indeed seen such material, but have abided by the normal convention that such matters are not suitable for raising in this House. I would observe, for the benefit of Mr Brownlee and other National members, that people in glass houses should not throw stones and overturn the old conventions.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Could I ask the Prime Minister who, in her experience or opinion, would be the more qualified to determine whether an action warranted dismissal: the headmaster who dealt with the matter at the time, or someone who wants a Titus Oates Star Chamber procedure to be the way we do justice in this country?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Clearly, the principal, who has made it clear again today that he did not consider that the issues raised were disciplinary matters.
Does the Prime Minister stand by her statement that the recent complainants should “put up or shut up” by going to the authorities, and is she concerned that young women may interpret her comments to mean that they can talk about and expose abuse only if they are willing to go to the police?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
There was a 6-month investigation during which there was plenty of time to air these matters.
Does the Prime Minister not yet understand that New Zealanders have already reached a judgment about the credibility of the Hon David Benson-Pope, and that the longer she continues defending her Minister, the more questions will be asked about her own credibility?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
As I said to the member in the House yesterday, he should not assume that the conclusions he jumps to are shared by others. I have a stack of letters supportive of Mr Benson-Pope.