Media Release

11 November 2002

Conciliator Should Resign Says Peters

New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters called today for the resignation of Race Relations Conciliator, Joris de Bres.

“Mr de Bres has put himself in the position of being seen as a puppet for the Government. Being the Race Relations conciliator does not qualify him or call for him to comment on economic, tourism, export and trade issues.

“Greg Fortuin was pushed out of a job for acting as a mediator when the Alliance self destructed, yet the Government is using the new conciliator to interfere in matters that are totally outside his job description.

“The conciliator is supposed to be an impartial officer who does not get involved in party politics.

“His outburst in today’s Dominion Post, gives me no confidence that he can impartially judge the issues that arise out of his position.

“Or is it ok as long as what he says is on the Governments side?” Said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media