Roger Sowry National Deputy Leader

20 October 2002

Questions still remain over Armstrong

The statements made today by Michael Cullen and TVNZ chairman, Ross Armstrong over the public private partnership issue do nothing to answer the questions that arose when this story first broke on Friday, says National's Deputy Leader, Roger Sowry.

"The central issue here still is - was Dr Armstrong invited by the Prime Minister to establish this group"

"If she did invite him, she needs to explain why. But if she didn't, why did Dr Armstrong hang himself out to dry by implying that the group was being convened at the request of the Prime Minister?

"If Michael Cullen is right in saying the Prime Minister made no such request, then Dr Armstrong must be sacked.

"The fact that Dr Cullen stated yesterday, and today, that he did not want Dr Armstrong to made any public statement can only lead us to believe that Dr Cullen was afraid of what Dr Armstrong was going to say," says Roger Sowry.

Ends

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