Media Release 8 November 2001

Which Medal, Prime Minister?. It's time for some consistency over Turia

New Zealand Corrections Spokesperson, Ron Mark MP, is calling for the Prime Minister to show some consistency over the actions of Associate Corrections Minister Tariana Turia.

"The Prime Minster has shown that in her government there are two laws-one for her friends and another for everyone else,"said Mr Mark..

"The truth is that it is now obvious to any rational person that Tariana Turia has grossly overstepped her privileges as a minister of the crown, and if the Prime Minister is to be consistent then Turia should go.

"Compare the treatment that Turia has received to that metted out to Dover Samuels. In Dover's case the Prime Minister sacked him even before any wrong-doing was proven, saying on June 28 2000 that a 'Minister cannot be effective in his job in a flagship government programme while allegations, controversy, and public debate swirl around him'.

"We can also compare the sacking of Ella Henry, who sent a business card to a police officer, or to Ian Revell who wrote a similarly misguided letter. Mr Revell was forced to resign then after calls from Labour.

"What is the difference between Tariana Turia and Dover Samuels, Ella Henry, Ruth Dyson, Alamein Kopu, Ian Revell, Phillida Bunkle or Marion Hobbs? And what does Turia have over Helen Clark?

"Instead Miss Clark says that Turia should get a medal. I would like to know which medal Tariana will be receiving in the New Year's honours-Will she be made a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit; or merely a Dame Companion of that same order? If not any of these, will she be receiving the Collar of the Order of New Zealand; The Queen's Service Order; The Queen's Service Medal (QSM) or; The Crowned Effigy of The Queen Medal; or maybe the Order of the Tuatara?," concluded Mr Mark.

Ends.

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