Keep your eye on New Zealand, Helen
Rt Hon Jenny Shipley Leader of the Opposition
Wednesday 6 September 2000
Keep your eye on New Zealand, Helen
It is extraordinary for the Prime Minister to attack Australia for its handling of indigenous people when she is handling race relations so poorly at home, Opposition leader Jenny Shipley said today.
Helen Clark, in New York, has criticised Australia for its refusal to sign up to some United Nations treaties following a series of UN reports critical of Australia's treatment of aborigines.
"This is a bit rich coming from Helen Clark. Last week she stayed on holiday skiing while Tariana Turia made inflammatory and dangerous comments about race relations in New Zealand.
"This week in New York she has declared the issue over and done with despite Mrs Turia's defiant continued use of the holocaust as a parallel for the plight of Maori.
"Mrs Turia's comments have been very damaging to race relations. But Helen Clark has failed spectacularly to control her Minister. In fact she has set one standard for Mrs Turia and another for other members of her caucus.
"She would be better advised to keep her eye on what is happening to race relations at home instead of offering her opinions about what is happening in Australia," Mrs Shipley said.
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