Scoop Images: Prebble vs Huata - Judgment Day

Thursday, 18 November 2004, 3:29 pm
Article: Kevin List

Today in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice, Sian Elias stated that Donna Awatere Huata's actions had led to her present status as an independent MP. By continuing in Parliament Ms Awatere-Huata was effectively distorting the proportionality of Parliament.

The verdict from the Supreme Court justices was unanimous, with all agreeing that the ACT leader (at the time Richard Prebble) was within his rights to revoke Ms Awatere Huata's membership.
SEE ALSO:
- Judgment Full Text - PREBBLE And Ors V HUATA SC SC CIV 9/2004 – 18 Nov
- Supreme Court - Richard William Prebble & Ors V Donna Awatere Huata

Following the verdict there is now no legal impediment to the process of the so-called "party-hopping" legislation being once more put in train. The ultimate resolution of this will be when Ms Awatere-Huata is ejected from Parliament. The number 10 candidate from ACT's list Kenneth Wang turned up to watch today's verdict that will put him in Parliament as the replacement for Ms Awatere-Huata.

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Soon to be the newest member of Parliament ACT's Kenneth Wang who will take the seat vacated by Donna Awatere-Huata. In the background you can see Muriel Newman, ACT Leader is partially obscured at right

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ACT Leader Rodney Hide talks to the media

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The media scrum outside the High Court (Temporary Home to the Supreme Court)

Tis a happy day for former ACT Leader Richard Prebble who pushed for the case to go to the Supreme Court.

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