David
SHEARER

Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
3 September 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

What is McCully hiding?

The fact that the Ombudsman has launched an investigation into why Murray McCully has refused to release documents relating to the Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman shows the double standards that exist around the releasing of documents publicly, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.

“That the Chief Ombudsman, Dame Beverley Wakem is stepping in shows the significance in which McCully’s actions are being seen.

“The charges against the diplomat are serious, they involve a New Zealand woman and there is clear public interest in the case both in terms of achieving justice and how this government handled it.

“Murray McCully simply does not want the full story to get out.

“Any hiding behind the ongoing investigation by John Whitehead into the matter should be seen for what it is deliberate evasion.

“The Minister releasing documents now will not jeopardise that inquiry. Indeed, it was specifically set up to avoid looking at why Minister McCully himself did not take the matter seriously and why his office did not take it up and ask the right questions.”

“Information is slow to emerge from the National Government when it doesn’t suit them and the opposite when it does.” says David Shearer.

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