Media Release
20 December 2004

Same Old Faces, Faded Labels - Peters

Rt Hon Winston Peters says Helen Clark’s “new” cabinet has a tired and familiar look that reveals the serious talent deficit in Labour’s pre-election cabinet.

“It proves that you can only make a sow’s ear out of sow’s ear,” said the New Zealand First Leader after the Prime Minister announced her cabinet reshuffle today.

“This reshuffle simply confirms the perception that this government is being run from the ninth floor of the Beehive and it really doesn’t matter what label sits on which face.

“With election year looming on the horizon, it seems unusual that the Prime Minister did not show a little more imagination and send out a search party to the Labour Party caucus to see if there was somebody with capability and talent.

“Hanging different labels on the same people who have brought down health, education and welfare services will be rightfully seen as window dressing by most New Zealanders.”

Mr Peters promised that New Zealand First would continue to point out the shortcomings of the “incompetent and feeble” ministers in the months leading up to the 2005 election.

“They can only hide for so long before they are exposed for what they are and we are looking forward to the new parliamentary year with great enthusiasm,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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