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Bennett should remember her own antics

Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education

18 December 2007 Media Statement

Bennett should remember her own antics

National’s early childhood education spokeswoman Paula Bennett knows all about “stunt” photo antics – hers landed her in front of the Advertising Standards Complaints Board, Education Minister Chris Carter says.

Just last year, Paula Bennett was found to have breached the board’s code of ethics by posing with a group of schoolboys from Kelston Boys’ High School for a National Party promotion.

The board upheld a complaint by a parent, saying the photo clearly gave the impression the boys, in their blue school uniforms, were endorsing the National Party yet no permission had been gained from parents and it became clear the boys involved did not understand what the photo was for.

Ms Bennett dismissed the incident at the time with a flippant “no photos with boys next time”.

She hired a lawyer who tried to argue the board did not have jurisdiction over the postcard and that she had asked permission for the boys to appear in the photo.

“No wonder Paula Bennett used the phrase “stunt kids” in Parliament today,” Chris Carter said, “it’s something she would know quite a lot about. Thoughtless self-promotion seems to be her forte.

“In contrast, the Prime Minister carried out the event for Jump & Jive in good faith, there were no ‘stunt kids’ involved and Paula Bennett should be focusing on the issue of the health of children instead of reminding us of her own murky antics in the past,” Chris Carter says.

“As I told the House today, I am advised that the Ministry of Education is meeting with Kidicorp tomorrow to discuss Jump and Jive’s registration but the health of young students is not something to be taken lightly and Ms Bennett should remember that,” Chris Carter said.

ENDS

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