Did Clark leak or confirm false information on Doone? Rodney Hide

Wednesday, 27 April 2005

Helen Clark must come clean on whether she knifed former Police Commissioner Peter Doone in the back by leaking information to the media, ACT leader Rodney Hide said today.

Mr Hide’s call follows the news that Peter Doone has discontinued defamation proceedings against the Sunday Star-Times because “new evidence had identified a prominent third party who was the apparent source of the alleged defamatory statements.” That third party is believed to be the Prime Minister.

“We all know that Prime Minister Helen Clark wanted rid of Doone. What we didn’t know is that she may have knifed him in the back by leaking or confirming false information,” Mr Hide said.

“It’s truly shocking that a Prime Minister might leak or confirm leaked information to the media to undermine her own Police Commissioner. It’s doubly shocking that the information may have been false.

“Helen Clark needs to front up and answer two simple questions: Did she leak or confirm confidential information on Peter Doone to the media? If so, was that information she leaked confirmed to be true?

“New Zealanders need to know that they can trust the Prime Minister. Helen Clark’s answers to these two questions will go to the heart of whether the public can trust her.

“New Zealanders need to know whether Helen Clark knifed her top cop in the back. How could anyone ever trust her if she did,” Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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