7. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Is he satisfied with the way in which he and his office have handled the release of parts of his police file?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
As I have said previously, I authorised the release of information to a Sunday newspaper to provide balance to the misinformation provided to the House in the previous week by Rodney Hide. No constraint was placed on me with regard to the files in my possession, although in hindsight I recognise that releasing details was not the wisest course of action.
Madam SPEAKERThe Minister answered the question. Would the member please ask a supplementary question—no editorialising, thank you.
When he authorised a staff member to release selected parts of the police report to a Sunday newspaper, did he also authorise that staff member to say that the Minister was unavailable for an interview and had no comment to make, and does he agree that that is very deceptive conduct?
If it was for the “police to release the report”, as the Minister has publicly maintained, why did he decide to leak selective parts of the report in advance, and does he agree that it was a deceptive attempt to manipulate public opinion and erode the credibility of witnesses?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
As I answered previously, I authorised the release of information to the Sunday newspaper to provide balance to the misinformation provided to the House in the previous week by Rodney Hide. No constraint was placed on me with regard to files in my possession, although in hindsight I recognise that my action was not appropriate.
Does the Minister stand by his statement to the House last Thursday when he said: “The material that was released was not selective. Also, as I said previously, it contained comment quite critical of myself.”—that is, of course, referring to the Minister—and if so, which particular parts of that material does he consider to be quite critical of himself?
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I do not believe that the Minister addressed that question. I asked him which particular parts of the material he considered to be quite critical of himself. His answer was about being fair, it was not about which material was quite critical.
Has the Minister since spoken to, or briefed in advance, the Prime Minister or any caucus colleagues about the handling of the police report; if so, what was the nature of the advice that they gave to him?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I have had no conversation with the Prime Minister over those matters.