Media Release

14th August 2001

Donnelly Furious Over Reading Report Leak

The leak of the Education and Science Select Committee 'Inquiry into the Teaching of Reading Report' to a Herald reporter has infuriated New Zealand First MP, Hon Brian Donnelly.

"Either the reporter of the lead story in today's Herald has prestigious capacities of clairvoyance or someone has leaked her a copy of the report", Mr Donnelly suggested.

The report was to be presented to Parliament at 9:00am today.

"This makes a mockery of parliamentary processes and brings into question the ethics of journalists who use such material in this way", he said.

"The worst element of this incident is that the person who leaked the material had to be a Member of Parliament. It is totally unfair on other journalists, who play by the rules, for MP's to be aiding and abetting journalists selectively and in such unethical ways," Mr Donnelly claimed

"It is little wonder that the public has such a low regard for MP's when they act in this way," said Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

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