PM’s Presser: Key Stonewalls on the Worth Question

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The PM playing defence

• Scoop Audio: Audio on Demand of NZ Prime Minister John Key's weekly press conference.

Today the Prime Minister continued his refusal to say why he sacked Richard Worth as a Minister. During 15 minutes of questioning he would only say Worth had lost his confidence. This is what a stonewall sounds like:

Press Gallery: “Can you give the public assurance that he was not removed as a minister because of misusing his position in any way?”
Prime Minister: “I’m not going to go into details”
PG: “So you can’t even tell the public whether or not this person has misused their position?”
PM: “I think I’ve spelt out the reason”
PG: “You haven’t spelt out the reason.”
PM: “Well, he’s lost my confidence”

PM: “It’s a chapter closed and I’m moving on.”

When asked whether his silence was to protect Worth’s privacy the PM would only say again that he had moved on.

Clearly the press gallery has not moved on.

Key originally declined to give an explanation on the grounds that doing so would contaminate the police investigation. Today he said his reason for sacking Worth “was nothing of a legal nature”.

How did he explain this apparent discrepancy? Answer: “As I said to you - I’ve dealt with the matter.”

Key said he has no intention to vet the appointments Worth made while minister, even though the relevant allegations, and aspects of Worth’s controversial business trip to India, relate to potentially serious misuses of public office.

Key might have “closed the chapter of the book and (be) going forward” but the press gallery is still waiting for an answer.

In related news Nathan Guy will take over Worth’s ministerial responsibility for Internal Affairs, Archives NZ and the National Library, as well as the Associate Transport and Justice portfolios.

Maurice Williamson will take up Land Information.

On Tuesday National’s Caucus will choose a new senior whip to replace Mr Guy.

Key also indicated a ‘no’ vote in the upcoming referendum on child discipline was unlikely to prompt him to change the law.

The PM tries to explain this using a triple negative.

“If I don’t think the laws working I’ll change it, and to date I haven’t any evidence that doesn’t support that the law’s not working.”

Health Minister Tony Ryall made a brief appearance saying it was likely large numbers of New Zealanders would get swine flu, and the Government was going to step up its education campaign in a further attempt to slow tranmission.

And a royal announcement - the King and Queen of Spain will pay New Zealand a visit from the 20th to the 24th of June for the opening of a Spanish embassy in Wellington.

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A moment of light relief

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