Prime Minister John Key is
now denying he admitted to playing politics and delaying the
release of official information.
In Parliament today, in
response to a question from New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon
Winston Peters as to why he had admitted using delaying
tactics for political purposes, he said he had
not.
However, he told Radio New Zealand: "Sometimes we
wait the 20 days because, in the end, Government might take
the view that's in our best interest to do that.”
Mr Key
had been responding to questions over the delay in
responding to Official Information Act requests on child
poverty advice to the government.
Radio New Zealand waited
17 months to get the government to release Treasury and
Ministry of Social Development advice on child
poverty.
“Mr Key clearly is using political tactics in
delaying responses to OIA requests, as he admitted. Now he
has had second thoughts about his admission. It is too late.
He is on record.
“He needs to take a serious look at his
previous statement on openness and transparency and start to
act in that manner.”
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