Monday 23rd Apr 2001 Richard Prebble Media Release -- Other

Trevor de Cleene, who died yesterday, was one of Parliament’s real characters, ACT leader Richard Prebble says.

“He used to boast that, as a lawyer, he had helped clients avoid tax, and as associate minister of Inland Revenue he played a leading part in implementing GST, which closed the loophole,” Mr Prebble said.

Mr de Cleene was part of a group of reforming Labour MPs who put through the Rogernomics reforms in the 1980s.

“He is possibly the only MP to have resigned giving his reason as matesmanship,” Mr Prebble said.

“He said if his friend Roger Douglas was to be fired as a Minister, he was going too.”

Mr de Cleene was, with Roger Douglas, a founding member of the ACT Party.

“He will be remembered as a raconteur, a fine lawyer, a good MP and a gentleman,” Mr Prebble said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media