One Standard Or Two On Political Corruption?

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today condemned the National Party, as well as Labour, for its feeble response to the naked political bias of Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi.

"To simply call for Mr Piripi to withdraw his submission and his politically-biased comments or be sacked, as Mr Brownlee has, is feeble. It is evidence of why this culture of political corruption has been allowed to cement itself into so many of our institutions," Mr Franks said.

"If Mr Piripi withdraws his papers, it means nothing more than that he doesn't want to lose his job, or embarrass his Labour Government masters anymore than he already has.

"Withdrawing doesn't mean he's changed his views, it simply means that the message it sends to the people peddling racism on State salaries is `to go as far as you like and wait until whitey squeals - then withdraw knowing that everyone will have got the message anyway'.

"We won't get back a politically neutral public service until blatant bias means sacking.

"Mr Piripi's bias was demonstrated just over a week ago when he compared Dr Elizabeth Rata to Don Brash in what was plainly intended to be a savage put-down. In other words, he thought the term "Don Brash" was an obvious insult.

"National should be vowing not to rest while Mr Piripi retains his State pay cheque. It should also be promising to scour out of the public service those like him who are racist proponents of the `two worlds' theory that would oblige Maori and pakeha to choose which culture and set of rules they will live under, instead of adhering to our common law.

"It should not matter now how fervently Mr Piripi withdraws his submission. He made his unrepentant views clear on Morning Report today and his feet should not touch the ground as he is ejected from State employment," Mr Franks said.

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