The Australian Blasts Clark's "Odious" Comments

Wednesday 2 Apr 2003 Richard Prebble Press Releases -- Foreign Affairs & Defence

The scathing criticism of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark by The Australian newspaper is evidence of what Australia, Britain and the United States think of her populist pronouncements, ACT Leader Richard Prebble said today.

"Helen Clark may find some domestic popularity by making an armchair general imitation at her weekly press conferences, but for countries which have young men and women at risk on the battlefield, her statements are - as The Australian puts it - "odious".

"Helen Clark is attempting to have it every which way at once. On the one hand she claims New Zealand's "close" friendship with our traditional allies is unaffected, while on the other hand she takes cheap political shots. Similarly, on the one hand she says New Zealand's prospect of a Free Trade Deal with the United States have not been affected, while on the other hand she says it is not something she wanted anyway.

"One conclusion we can draw is that Helen Clark's credibility across the Tasman has never been lower," Mr Prebble said.

A link to the editorial in The Australian today can be found at www.act.org.nz/theaustralian (http://www.act.org.nz/theaustralian) .

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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