Burton's Law: Sucking Up To Chinese General More Important Than Answering To Parliament

United Future leader and deputy Finance and Expenditure Committee chair, Hon Peter Dunne, says the revelation that SOE Minister Mark Burton stood up the Committee to kow-tow to a Chinese General is disgusting.

"Mr Burton's responsibility is to the New Zealand Parliament and its people, not some Chinese General from one of the most repressive, undemocratic regimes in the world."

"It defies all reasonable belief that a New Zealand Cabinet Minister would see paying homage to a General from a country which still treats its people the way it did at Tianamen Square as more important than fronting up to a Parliamentary Committee."

"I understand Mr Burton's concern not to insult a visitor, but it is unacceptable that the democratically elected representatives of the New Zealand people come second as far as he is concerned to a General who upholds the world's most repressive and dictatorial regime."

"Mr Burton should realise he is primarily responsible to the New Zealand people, not the brass in Beijing, and if he does not like that, then he should get out."

"I know that in this Government's eyes China can do no wrong, but it goes well beyond the pale to now have a Minister who place more importance on keeping the Chinese happy than he does on serving the people of New Zealand."

"Then again, maybe he was just getting in the queue early for Olympic invites!" Mr Dunne says.

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