PM must strip Jones of forestry portfolio after promising
‘utu’ on whistle-blowers
1 OCTOBER 2019
The
Prime Minister must strip Shane Jones of his Forestry
portfolio in light of his comments of “utu” on the
sector’s whistle-blowers, says the New Zealand
Taxpayers’ Union.
Taxpayers’ Union
Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “The Prime
Minister was right to rebuke the Minister for using taxpayer
money as a political cudgel. But, instead of apologising to
the public, he’s now threatening ‘utu’ on the
whistleblower.”
“Shane Jones is acting like a
wannabe-despot.”
“This isn’t the first time
that Shane Jones has bullied business, been rebuked by the
Prime Minister, and then doubled down. In June, he said he would
try to tone down his behaviour. He hasn’t, and he needs to
face real consequences.”
“The Prime Minister
must reassure taxpayers that Government Ministers who
exploit their position to bribe industry will be punished,
not just prodded with
words.”
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