Careful Mr Peters, you don't come to this with clean hands

21 JUNE 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union says that it’s a bit rich of Winston Peters to criticise the National Party for using its taxpayer-funded leader's fund to pay ‘hush money’ when that is precisely what he used his leader's fund for in late 2013 to fend off multiple personal grievances.

The Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, Jordan Williams, says “Back in 2014 we highlighted two examples of former NZ First staff that were paid out by the same type of fund in order for Mr Peters to avoid the embarrassment of an employment law claims in his own office. The Dominion Post even ran a cartoon on the issue.”

“While every other New Zealander must follow the letter of employment law, MPs are often ignoring it and having the poor taxpayer fund the resulting payouts.”

“Mr Peters, in a similar spot to Mr English, has a chance to set a higher standard and publicly commit not to use these taxpayer funds for hush money. Only then would Mr Peters' criticisms hold water.”

“In the meantime, Mr Barclay should pay it back and reimburse the taxpayer for the hush money he is responsible for.”

The 2013 story is available at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9590207/Payments-buy-the-silence-of-staff-at-Parliament.

ENDS

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