PM's Press Conference 26/6/17: Red Socks and Secret Tapes

Monday, 26 June 2017, 5:34 pm
Article: The Scoop Team

Prime Minister Bill English began his post-cabinet press conference by explaining how well the National Party's annual conference went. He also mentioned today's announcement of changes to the EQC disaster insurance legislation and wished Emirates Team New Zealand well in the America's Cup.

After further discussion of the PM's plan for watching the race and government support for Team New Zealand, questions moved through a range of topics including the wider consequences of the health care workers' settlement, proposals for a sugar tax, the tax cuts teasered by English at the National Party conference, mental health emergency support, Hone Harawira's proposal of the death penalty for some drug crimes, policing, and the case on Government climate change policy that began in Wellington today.

There was extended questioning on the Todd Barclay scandal, with journalists seeking clarity on the PM's statements that Barclay had offered to play him recordings of Barclay's staff and other statements casting doubt on the existence of those recordings. English said there was a confidential settlement and a closed police investigation and he had nothing to add, before going to add a few things.

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