Nick Smith National MP
22 May 2001
Smith welcomes Lashlie reinstatement
Nelson MP Nick Smith today welcomed the reappointment of Celia Lashlie as the advisor to Nelson schools to assist in
developing programmes that will help at-risk pupils.
"This is excellent news and vindication of our campaign to have her sacking overturned. It is a defeat for the
politically correct purists who will gag any meaningful debate about children under the guise of privacy.
"The surprising outcome is the resignation of the SES Chair Graham Lovelock when he had no involvement, according to the
report, in the dismissal. He has become the fall guy and the public is left wondering just who was responsible for this
mess.
"Someone in this sorry business has told a porkie and we are none the wiser as to who it was. Celia Lashlie has said "I
heard those words 'The Minister's office and the Ministry are angry at your comments and consider that you have stepped
across the line'. Either the SES, the Ministry or the Minister's office did not tell the truth and this report has
failed to get to the bottom of this.
"The most important outcome is that Celia Lashlie is back working for Nelson schools and that the debate of children at
risk of becoming criminals is not going to be silenced," Dr Smith said.
Ends