The National Party MP
charged with disorderly behaviour after driving a tractor up
the steps of Parliament during a protest against the
scrapped 'flatulence tax' is due back in court
tomorrow.
Taranaki MP Shane Ardern is due to appear in the
Wellington District Court for a status hearing at 2:15pm on
Tuesday November 25, 2003.
The hearing before a judge,
will decide if there is good reason for the charge to
progress.
"I'm pleading not guilty. I have been all along
and nothing's changed," says Mr Ardern, who is also
National's Associate Agriculture and Biosecurity spokesman.
"I was acting on behalf of my rural constituents, who
were rightfully complaining that the so called flatulence
tax was unacceptable.
"The farming community won that
battle and I hope to be able to win mine too," says Mr
Ardern.
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