Tamihere Inquiry Should Be Open & Transparent

Monday 18 Oct 2004 Rodney Hide Press Releases -- Other

ACT New Zealand Leader Rodney Hide today said Prime Minister Helen Clark was making the same mistake she made with her last inquiry into John Tamihere: the inquiry should be a judicial one, it should be open to the media, and witnesses should be allowed to come forward to present evidence.

"The trouble with the proposed inquiry is that it's a closed one, set up and run by the Government. At the very least, it should have consulted the Leader of the Opposition Don Brash about the terms of reference and personnel to conduct an inquiry that Parliament could have faith in.

"If Helen Clark had followed ACT's advice last time, and had a proper judicial inquiry, she wouldn't find herself in the mess that she has now put her Government in.

"The people of New Zealand need some openness and transparency in the case of Mr Tamihere for a change.

"Helen Clark failed in the last inquiry. I doubt she'll do much better with this one," Mr Hide 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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