David Shearer today called for an inquiry into the matter of former ACC Minister Nick Smith writing a personal refrerence for the ACC on his ministerial letterhead. He called Nick Smith's actions a clear conflict of interest and said that he expected that the Prime Minister would provide a full inquiry.

He stated that he had not yet heard the full background facts of the case and added that he would like an inquiry into how the initial leak happened.

He went on to question the new Local Government Bill, calling the definitions of social provision 'ad hoc' and called the proposals 'contradictory'. He also suggested that the proposed measures would impose 'inappropriate' amalgamations on some local government authorities.

The Press Gallery asked:
-- What he thought the appropriate response to Nick Smith's actions
-- Whether he felt there was more to the events surrounding the ACC leak than had yet emerged
--What activities he felt local government ought not to be involved in
-- Whether councils should bail out broke rugby unions
-- His view on state asset sales and the new Mixed Ownership Model

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Watch video footage of the press conference on Scoop YouTube channel here