You're The Joke, Tizard

Thursday 15 Jul 2004 Deborah Coddington Press Releases -- Other

Contrary to what Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard may think, spending $500,000 of taxpayer dollars to send a braying port-a-loo to represent New Zealand at the 2005 Venice Biennele is no laughing matter, ACT New Zealand Arts, Culture and Heritage Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.

"On National Radio today, Ms Tizard showed the country exactly what she thought of the controversy surrounding this ludicrous waste of money when she tried to justify this irresponsible spending as a good laugh.

"The Minister also tried to deny that her portfolio was about `taking the piss' out of taxpayers, but described the work chosen as something that could be seen as a joke.

"The only joke here is the Minister. I highly doubt that hard-working New Zealanders would find it amusing to know that Ms Tizard is so out of touch with her portfolio," Miss Coddington said.

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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