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Shameful double standard on court comments
Tony Ryall MP
National Party Law & Order Spokesman
30 August 2005
Shameful double standard on court comments
National Party Law and Order spokesman Tony Ryall says Helen Clark is guilty of a shameful double standard when it comes to commenting on court cases.
"Last week, Helen Clark attacked as 'absolutely ridiculous' the decision by a Judge to grant name suppression to the man accused of a violent hammer attack in Auckland.
"Yet on August 20, on TVNZ's Agenda programme, when questioned about her speeding motorcade Helen Clark said, 'the convention is that ministers don't comment on a judge's decision'.
"This is an appalling double standard. Helen Clark should be consistent.
"Given that she has now broken her own rule, it's time for Helen Clark to admit to the public she feels guilty for not helping the staff who now have a conviction for doing what they believed was their jobs.
"She should now answer the hard questions on motorcade.
"Did she give a statement to police, was she cautioned before giving the statement, why did she indicate she did not want to appear in court?
"In overwhelming numbers the public are saying they do not trust the Prime Minister's version of events. It's time for her to tell the whole story," says Mr Ryall.
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