Gerry Brownlee MP National Party Deputy Leader

15 March 2005

Little comfort for PM in Tamihere decision

National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee says the Prime Minister can take little comfort from the Serious Fraud Office verdict on the dealings of John Tamihere at the Waipareira Trust.

In a carefully worded statement, Serious Fraud Office director David Bradshaw said the evidence did not support the laying of any charges against Mr Tamihere.

"Helen Clark must leave the demoted MP right where he is. "Mr Tamihere deceived the public and the Prime Minister by saying that he had not taken a golden handshake when he had. He is guilty of that and he knows it.

"In essence he accepted a large sum of cash, estimated to be a gross amount of more than $300,000, along with substantial perks from an organisation that would have otherwise spent the money supporting disadvantaged families.

"Lianne Dalziel remains on the outer after saying one thing to the public then doing another, and of course Dover Samuels has never come back despite being cleared of serious allegations.

"It would be a gross double standard if Helen Clark now suddenly decided to fast-track Mr Tamihere's rehabilitation while others haven't been given the same treatment," says Mr Brownlee.

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