Govt Refuses To Answer Questions Over Speeding Motorcade

ACT New Zealand Leader Rodney Hide today said that Prime Minister Helen Clark was clearly working hard to cover up her involvement in the speeding motorcade.

"The Prime Minister is refusing to answer the most basic Parliamentary questions about the trip. So too are the police," Mr Hide said.

"According to PQ 10247: `VIP transport drivers are required to report any events that are out of the ordinary'.

"I asked the Prime Minister whether her VIP driver provided a report - it turns out that whether the driver did or not is top secret, with PQ 11614 stating: `It would not be appropriate to comment on this matter because it is the subject of an investigation by the Police'.

"I asked the Minister of Police whether the Prime Minister has been interviewed. That's a secret (PQ 11617):

The Commissioner of Police has initiated an inquiry into this matter, the results of which will be reported to the Police Complaints Authority.

I am advised that Police are unable to comment further pending completion of the inquiry.

"The same answer is given by the Minister of Police when I asked who is conducting the inquiry and details on the inquiry's parameters (PQ 10240). We can't even know what the inquiry is investigating.

"It turns out the inquiry into whatever also has no timetable: `There is no set timeline for the completion of the investigation' (PQ 11616). I then lodged an Official Information Act request with the Police. That's been turned down because any response `is likely to prejudice the maintenance of law'.

"I remember when this Prime Minister used to pride herself on plain speaking. Clearly, that's gone out the window. Here are two basic questions: how fast was the motorcade going? And did the Prime Minister authorise the speeding?

"It's been seven weeks. It's another whitewash," Mr Hide said

ENDS

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