John Key attempts to whitewash Collins inquiry

John Key is trying to whitewash the investigation into the serious allegations against Judith Collins and her conduct as a Minister, said the Green Party today.

John Key today announced that he intends to appoint a Government Inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2013 to investigate the allegations. However, the inquiry will only look at whether Ms Collins tried to undermined the then Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley, when she was responsible for the SFO.

“John Key has picked the weakest possible inquiry, a Government Inquiry, to investigate Ms Collins,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“If John Key was serious about cleaning up his government, he would have appointed a Royal Commission which is more independent than a Government inquiry.

“By appointing a Government inquiry, he is ensuring that the report back will be to his Ministers, not Parliament, as would be the case with a Royal Commission.

“The terms of reference are reportedly yet to be finalised but John Key has already made it very clear the inquiry will be extremely narrow.

“There will be no investigation into the numerous other allegations against Ms Collins, who has shown to have the tendency to play dirty politics undermining our democracy.

“John Key is clearly paving the way for Ms Collins to get back into Cabinet if National were to win another term.

“The Green Party has repeatedly called for this whole debacle to be subject to a completely independent inquiry.

“A Royal Commission is needed to look at the SFO issue and all the allegations,” said Mrs Turei.

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