Tony Ryall National Police Spokesperson

21 December 2001

Turia at it again

Papers released today by the Minister of Social Services show Associate Corrections Minister Tariana Turia was not only continually interfering in the prison service but with the Child Youth and Family service as well, National's Police Spokesperson Tony Ryall said today. "The chief executive of CYFS was put in the strange position of having to warn Ms Turia that she would be out of line representing a constituent in a domestic family case as the Associate Minister.

"The OIA papers reveal CYFS was worried that one of Ms Turia's Ministerial staff was involved in the case, including attendance at a hui, and underscore the interfering pattern of behaviour we have seen from her in other cases.

"That the papers include the Cabinet Manual which explain Ministerial conflict of interest backs up our stance that the Associate Minister wasn't following procedures.

"The Government releasing these papers on the eve of the Christmas break shows how worried they are about Ms Turia's involvement. This is supposed to be a Government of openness but this late release is an attempt to bury the truth.

"We have got news for the Government. We are not going to give up on this case of conflict of interest.

"These papers show Tariana Turia had a conflict of interest as Associate Minister. She does not understand the rules and she does not deserve to be a Minister," Mr Ryall said.

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