Media Release

14 December 1999

WINEBOX WARNING TO NEW GOVERNMENT

The New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, today warned the coalition Government that he would renew his Winebox campaign if it tried to sweep the issue of unpaid corporate taxes "under the carpet".

Mr Peters has been advised that the Inland Revenue Department will soon be receiving a report from the Crown Law Office on whether IRD should be prosecuting in the Winebox case.

This follows the High Court decision a few months ago which overturned Commissioner Davison's Report on the grounds that he made a basic error of law in his findings.

"Neither the IRD nor the Serious Fraud Office lodged an appeal against this High Court decision so why on earth is the Crown Law opinion being sought by the IRD?

"Also, what is the Crown Law opinion going to be, when the law is as clear as daylight on this tax issue and always has been. There are untold millions outstanding in unpaid taxes and all we have seen from the bureaucracy is obfuscation, obstruction and delay.

"Other citizens who obey the law and pay their taxes might well be asking the new Attorney General, and the new Justice Minister what they intend to do about this situation.

"If this issue is not resolved we will resume our campaign. The law must be upheld," said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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