27 March 2002

English And Wilson Being 'Small- Minded And Petty' Over Fortuin

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says National Party leader Bill English and Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson are being small-minded and petty in their attacks on Race Relations Conciliator Gregory Fortuin for seeking to broker a truce in the Alliance wars.

"In a democracy people must have the right to live their private lives the way they see fit, provided they are within the law, and that their private lives do not impact upon their public roles."

"To attack Mr Fortuin because of private meetings he held outside work hours with the Alliance is the height of political correctness gone wrong."

"Worse still, it implies a form of censorship over a person's actions which is a gross assault on rights in a free and democratic society."

"Mr English and Ms Wilson both seem to be saying that to do his job effectively Mr Fortuin has to think and act like them at all times, with no room for diversity or lateral thinking."

"That is small-mindedness at its worst, and shows a huge lack of tolerance on both their parts."

"I deplore the fact that they are baying for Mr Fortuin's blood on this issue simply to score cheap political points."

"The Prime Minister got it right at the outset when she supported Mr Fortuin's actions and called on people to move on."

"It is a message Ms Wilson and Mr English should heed," Mr Dunne says.

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