Huata Injunction Set Down for Thursday and Friday

Monday 9 Feb 2004 Richard Prebble Press Releases -- Governance & Constitution

ACT Leader Richard Prebble confirmed that Donna Awatere Huata's injunction case would be heard in the High Court in Auckland on Thursday and Friday of this week. The hearing will examine the interim injunction preventing Richard Prebble from sending a letter to the Speaker under the Electoral Integrity Act to have her removed from parliament.

"Tomorrow the judge will be hearing some preliminary matters including an application from the media to be able to film and record proceedings.

"The ACT party will not be opposing the media application. This is an important constitutional case. It's my view that the provisions of the Electoral Integrity Act are clear and the decision as to whether Ms Huata should be expelled from Parliament is for me to make as Party leader.

"As she has left the ACT party and has now repeatedly voted against the Party that put her in parliament I have no doubt she is not an ACT MP, does not represent the views of ACT voters, and has no right to sit in parliament.

"While any citizen can ask the court to ensure that the law is being followed, I am also in no doubt that I have been very careful to follow both the letter and the spirit of the law.

"I am asking my lawyers to impress on the court the urgency of this matter. On the foreshore and seabed issue the voting in parliament is going to be very close and it is just outrageous that Ms Huata has, on that issue, given procedural support to the government even though ACT's stand in opposition has been resolute", said Mr Prebble.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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