“Dump Human Rights Commission Instead” – Prebble

Tuesday 31st Oct 2000 Richard Prebble Media Release -- Governance & Constitution

The Government would be doing away with the wrong outfit if it abolished the Race Relations Conciliator’s office, ACT Leader, the Hon Richard Prebble said today.

He was commenting on a report that the Government was considering absorbing the Race Relations Office into a new body under the Human Rights Commission.

“I would suggests this is more a case of empire-building by the Human Rights Commission. It wants to take over the Race Relations Conciliator’s Office so it can finally justify its $4.7 million dollar a year budget, and give its four over-paid commissioners something to do.

“Every one knows what the Race Relations Conciliator’s job is. I can not think of any useful role carried out by the Human Rights Commission. As an MP of 21 years service I have had cause to seek the assistance of the Race Relations Commission, but I have never needed to approach the Human Rights Commission.

“The Human Rights Commission is regarded as a job for the boys! The Commission is so party political that it did not speak out against the Treaty clause in health legislation, even though the measure is, as Dr Prasad correctly pointed out, contrary to all human rights conventions.

“The Government is thinking about getting rid of the wrong office,” Mr Prebble said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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