Higher standards of ministers required

David Cunliffe | 1 May 2014

New Zealanders expect higher standards of their ministers than the Prime Minister is requiring, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“National ministers seem to believe they don’t have to follow the same rules as everyone else.

“John Key once had high standards for his ministers. The cases of ministers breaking the rules for their friends are mounting up. Maurice Williamson now joins the ranks of the disgraced behind Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, Nick Smith, John Banks, Peter Dunne and Judith Collins.

“The Prime Minister lives in a state of denial over the actions of his ministers until they are made public and he has no way out.

“That is not upholding high standards.

“Maurice Williamson’s actions were totally unacceptable and he has done the right thing by resigning.

“His emails to Police to help a National Party donor in a domestic violence case because he was ‘investing a lot of money in New Zealand’ are disgraceful.

“It is not the sort of behaviour New Zealanders expect from their elected officials.

“New Zealand prides itself on being one of the world’s least corrupt countries.

“While Maurice Williamson has been forced to go, John Key’s culture of entitlement continues,” David Cunliffe says.

© Scoop Media