National wins fight for Agent Orange inquiry

The National Party says a select committee inquiry into the effects of Agent Orange on our troops in Vietnam is yet another example of what can happen when the opposition works together, this time with help from the Greens and United Future.

"We had the support of the opposition parties today, as well as the Greens and United Future who are to be congratulated for joining this push for an inquiry," says the National Party Associate Health spokesperson Judith Collins.

Ahead of today's Health Select Committee meeting Ms Collins worked to make sure the push to obtain an inquiry would be successful, holding discussions with Act, United, NZ First and the Greens.

Ms Collins says the terms of reference have yet to be set, along with the inquiry's timing.

"It's clear there are some serious questions being raised about an earlier Government report into this issue, and we need to address that," Ms Collins says.

She's commenting about a report by the Wellington School of Medicine, which found Kiwi troops generally served in areas 'where there was no aerial spraying'.

"But now veterans have produced documents that make very different claims.

"I believe both the Minister and his Department have been dismissive and disrespectful of veterans' concerns," Ms Collins says.

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