8th September 2006

Gerry Brownlee is not sharp on accuracy

Jim Anderton said that comments by Gerry Brownlee this week in the House were incorrect and showed his lack of care in getting even simple facts right.

"Gerry Brownlee's point of order to my question in parliament where he said I stood as an Independent in 1993 shows he is ignorant of the facts but doesn't seem to care, hoping to get away with anything he just feels like saying, regardless of accuracy," Jim Anderton said.

"For the record, I have never stood as an Independent candidate in Wigram or anywhere else. Not in 1993 or ever.

"Secondly, Mr Brownlee said of me in Parliament "there is no way that we are in any way responsible for the deep dislike of him held by many of his constituents".

"On checking the facts, I see Gerry Brownlee has a smaller majority in Ilam (7821) than I do in my Wigram electorate (8548), which leads me to the conclusion, that even in the wealthiest suburbs of Christchurch, Mr Brownlee had more people who did not like him enough to vote for him than I did! Not even with the promise of large tax cuts for the most well-off New Zealanders, could attract their vote.

“If Gerry can’t get his own electorate majority right you wonder what else he gets wrong,” Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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