Katherine Rich MP

National Party Social Services Spokeswoman

04 May 2004

The resignation of Tariana Turia has provided room for Helen Clark to conduct a complete a Cabinet reshuffle and sack Ruth Dyson, says National Party Social Services spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

"Today in Parliament we have heard yet another apology from this Minister who has admitted that she never asks to see the official versions of answers to written Parliamentary questions.

"If she had bothered to check the material which is actually sent out publicly, she might have known that her office was breaching the privacy of more than 1300 children in a reply issued to me this week.

"This is the same Minister who gave misleading answers to Parliamentary questions about a computer that was given to an offender as part of their rehabilitation.

"It comes off the back of recent revelations that she denied having any reports of bullying within the ACC - even though some reports did in fact exist.

"This is the same Minister who served a spell on the backbenches after being convicted of drink-driving - the same Minister who can't hold her tongue when facing tough questions at select committee.

"The New Zealand public should now be asking whether this is Helen Clark's new standard of Ministerial behaviour.

"Our country deserves better - the buck stops with Ruth Dyson, and Ms Clark should make sure it does," says Mrs Rich.

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