Judith Collins MP National Party Associate Justice Spokeswoman

21 April 2004

Predictable Outcome In Guinea Pig Case

National Party Associate Justice spokeswoman Judith Collins is describing as "predictable" the outcome of an inquiry into the Government's treatment of the case that led to Lianne Dalziel's sacking.

"It confirms my belief that the terms of reference for this inquiry were always going to be too narrow, and the findings leave many questions unanswered.

"The actions of Ministers and their staff, including those who leaked the guinea pig letter to the media, were conveniently excluded from the inquiry.

"Kit Toogood QC confirms this when he says 'the circumstances in which the Minister of Immigration and members of her staff handled the letter and of its release to the news media are outside the Terms of Reference of this Inquiry'.

"I think that was a deliberate attempt to keep the full details from being made public and protect the Labour Government from further embarrassment.

"I'm concerned that the evidence of the Immigration Service was accepted ahead of the evidence provided by the Sri Lankan girl's grandmother - of course this is the same outfit responsible for 'lying in unison'.

"I can only conclude that there was only ever going to be one outcome from an inquiry with this sort of narrow focus.

"If the Government had been serious about uncovering the truth - it would not have tied the hands of those doing the investigation from the very start," says Ms Collins.

Ends

© Scoop Media