Don Brash National Party Leader

27 April 2005

Clark fails the Berrymans

National Party Leader Don Brash says Helen Clark's refusal to act over the Berryman bridge collapse is extraordinary, given her comments from the opposition benches following the collapse.

"Everything now points to a grave injustice against the Berrymans, but still Helen Clark will not live up to the promises she made," says Dr Brash.

In a media release dated 27 April 1998, Ms Clark said "the Government's refusal to enter into mediation over compensation for Keith and Margaret Berryman highlights the abandonment of rural New Zealand".

She said then: "The Berrymans are victims in many ways. They are victims of bad legislation and victims of an over-zealous government department... I feel really sorry for these people... I think their lives have been ruined."

Dr Brash says a highly relevant but suppressed Army report had come to light in the past few weeks, and made a mockery of Helen Clark's inaction.

"This is an increasingly murky situation, made worse by the fact that the report has still technically not been made public," says Dr Brash.

"Seven years after Ms Clark made those comments, little progress has been made on the issue. In fact it seems information is being suppressed in the hope that it will go away.

"There is a huge gap between Helen Clark's promises then and Michael Cullen's forlorn attempt now to hide behind the skirts of the Solicitor General in seeking to have the inquest reopened.

"In light of Ms Clark's comments in 1998, and the fact that she has not kept her word, this case will certainly not go away.

"Helen Clark should ensure appropriate compensation is paid to the Berrymans, and should launch an inquiry into why the conclusions of the report were withheld from the coroner, the select committee, and the Minister," says Dr Brash.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage