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Friday, 20 December 2002

Porteous should follow Toime's example

United Future MP Murray Smith says that Dr Bill Porteous, the Chief Executive of the Building Industry Authority should follow Elmar Toime's example of integrity and resign his position.

"In fact," says United Future's SOE and State Services spokesman, "there is a far stronger case for Dr Porteous' resignation then for Mr Toime's. Transend's losses were not caused by or even with the knowledge of Mr Toime. Dr Porteous was directly responsible for the inaction which has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of losses to New Zealand homeowners."

Mr Smith says that he is not convinced by NZ Post Chairman, Jim Bolger's suggestions that Mr Toime's resignation was entirely coincidental.

"Clearly the problems within Transend have been around for many months and the forthcoming Privileges Committee proceedings would have been weighing on his mind. There is no doubt in my mind that these factors would have been at least part of the equation when Mr Toime considered the offer of the new role. I guess only he knows exactly how big a factor they were and we can hardly expect him to tell us that candidly.

"I just hope that Dr Porteous is job hunting," Mr Smith said. "Because the pressure on him to resign will significantly increase over the next few months and continue until he demonstrates a willingness to accept the accountability of his privileged position."

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