INDEPENDENT NEWS

Peters Taxi Chit Inquiry More Toe Rag Journalism

Published: Fri 1 Aug 2003 04:29 PM
Peters Taxi Chit Inquiry More Toe Rag Journalism
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First, today said The Dominion Post’s story inferring an irregularity in the use of his taxi chit on the 24 July 2003 was just another example of toe rag journalism.
I have checked with Parliamentary Services and in every way I have complied with the rules.
More importantly, I lead a political party that has massively underspent its allocation over the last ten years with savings to the taxpayer of over 1.5million dollars. No other party can recite any such record of frugality where taxpayers money is concerned.
As Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister I was entitled to a car in my electorate and in Wellington - I took neither.
I was entitled as a Minister, twice over different periods, to a Government owned ministerial home – I did not take one.
As the Leader of a Party of New Zealand First’s size I am entitled to a chauffeur driven car. I have never taken one.
What Tracey Watkins, of the Dominion Post, was told when she made her idiotic inquiry was “if Parliamentary Services have some need to inquire into Mr Peters’ taxi chit they will contact us and we will respond directly to Parliamentary Services. We will not do it through the media, especially not a toe rag newspaper like the Dominion Post”. That answer became in Tracey Watkins’ hands “A New Zealand First Spokesman said the Party would be happy to answer any questions from Parliamentary Services –(Dom Post 1 August 2003 First Edition)
This whole issue is a total media beat-up. There was no crime and Parliamentary Service has reported today that there is no irregularity which leaves only gutter journalism.
The Dominion Post is obviously happy to defend a taxi service that, as again demonstrated on the Holmes show 31 July 2003, is appallingly third world.

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