Bring It On, Says Franks

Wednesday 4 Aug 2004 Stephen Franks

Press Releases - Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today responded to Tariana Turia's lodging of a complaint of Parliamentary privilege against him by invoking the words of her former leader Helen Clark - "Bring it on".

"Under this Government, the Privileges Committee is toothless. The Speaker has prevented it from considering what I believe to be genuine insults to Parliament's ethics and integrity - like Donna Awatere Huata's attempt to get money in return for her vote," Mr Franks said.

"I'll be amazed - but delighted - if Ms Turia's spurious complaint gets past the Speaker.

"I'll repeat my comments inside, and outside, of Parliament. Ms Turia has complained that I said:

· 1 August 2004: "Haami Piripi should go, along with all the other un-elected separatist politicians on the state payroll as part of the treaty industry. They infest government departments".

· 2 August 2004: "National should be vowing not to rest while Mr Piripi retains his State pay cheque. It should also be promising to scour out of the public service those like him who are racist proponents of the `two worlds' theory that would oblige Maori and pakeha to choose which culture and set of rules they will live under, instead of adhering to our common law".

"Mr Piripi should be free to hold and express whatever political views he wants, and to abuse Dr Rata by comparing her to ACT or Don Brash - if he thinks that is abuse - provided he is not on the taxpayers' payroll.

"But political partisanship on the state payroll should be confined to those who subject themselves to the vote of the people," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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