Nick Smith National MP

22 May 2001

Smith welcomes Lashlie reinstatement

Nelson MP Nick Smith today welcomed the reappointment of Celia Lashlie as the advisor to Nelson schools to assist in developing programmes that will help at-risk pupils.

"This is excellent news and vindication of our campaign to have her sacking overturned. It is a defeat for the politically correct purists who will gag any meaningful debate about children under the guise of privacy.

"The surprising outcome is the resignation of the SES Chair Graham Lovelock when he had no involvement, according to the report, in the dismissal. He has become the fall guy and the public is left wondering just who was responsible for this mess.

"Someone in this sorry business has told a porkie and we are none the wiser as to who it was. Celia Lashlie has said "I heard those words 'The Minister's office and the Ministry are angry at your comments and consider that you have stepped across the line'. Either the SES, the Ministry or the Minister's office did not tell the truth and this report has failed to get to the bottom of this.

"The most important outcome is that Celia Lashlie is back working for Nelson schools and that the debate of children at risk of becoming criminals is not going to be silenced," Dr Smith said.

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