Agenda Highlights: Williams & Fitzsimons

Labour Party president Mike Williams says Don Brash used tax payers’ money to pay Australian political strategist Bryan Sinclair.

Mr Sinclair has previously been linked to the Round Table and there had been allegations they were paying his fees.

But Mr Williams said on TVOne’s “Agenda” today that “we know he was paid out of taxpayers funds”.

Mr Williams said the question was how much?

The Labour President said it would be unlikely Mr Sinclair would cross the Tasman for an annual fee of less than one million dollars.

Mr Williams said there were two definitions of what Mr Sinclair did.

“Either he's a right wing ideologue a political consultant and an electioneerer, or you’ve got Gerry Brownlee's definition that he puts the chairs out at meetings..

“Well that will be settled by how much he was paid.”

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons will make a decision whether to stay or go next February, but is staying put for now.

“If I decide not to contest the next election, I would step down as leader next year, but at the moment I’m minded to continue.”

Speaking on Agenda as the one year anniversary of former co-leader Rod Donald’s death nears, Ms Fitzsimons said it was important to give any notice well in advance of the June party conference.

“I’ll make that decision next February. Rod and I had planned to leave at different times, in order to facilitate the transition to a new leadership.”

She wouldn’t be drawn however, on the matter of naming a replacement.

“It’s absolutely not my role to nominate a successor. The Greens are different from all the other parties … our leaders are chosen by our annual conference.

“I need to make up my mind early next year, but I haven’t made it up yet.”

© Scoop Media