Speaker Misrepresents New Zealand First on Inquiry Decision
Speaker Misrepresents New Zealand First on Inquiry Decision
The Speaker’s statement that the decision
for an inquiry into Martin Matthews’ suitability as
Auditor-General was unanimous was not correct, says New
Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Rt Hon Winston
Peters.
“New Zealand First from the start asked for
Martin Matthews to step down while a full independent
inquiry happened.
“We made it clear at the Officers of
Parliament Committee today that we wanted to discuss the
appointment and the terms of reference as a party and with
the party’s leader.
“This, after all, is a
parliamentary appointed committee.
“We have not had a
chance to discuss the terms of reference of the suggested
Inquirer.
“This meeting was a last-minute
event.
“It has the hands of the Beehive all over
it.
“Yesterday they didn’t want a bar of it, suddenly
they are ramrodding it through.
“There is a big effort
now to damage control the situation. We don’t want a civil
service and government that is trying to foreclose on this
issue.
“We have insisted all along that Mr Matthews
should stand down.
“It was a clear case of lack of
transparency and accountability over Mr Mathews’ action
around the fraud of senior manager Joanne Harrison, when she
worked under him when he was CEO at the Ministry of
Transport.
“There was ample information to show that a
spotlight needed to be shone on every detail through an
independent inquiry.
“Fraud was occurring, the person
in charge did nothing till just before his departure from
the ministry, and he was soon appointed to a top
job.
“The National government sat on its hands, tried
to deflect responsibility, defended Mr Matthews, and ignored
the circumstances of the whistle-blowers,” says Mr
Peters.
ENDS