Gerry Brownlee MP National Party State Services Spokesman

16 May 2006

Give us the whole story on leak

National Party State Services spokesman Gerry Brownlee says the identification of the person responsible for leaking the centrepiece Budget announcement raises more questions than it answers.

"How did this messenger know what he was handling? Wasn't the document in an envelope or does Labour routinely share this sort of material with the messengers?

"This raises serious questions about the handling of sensitive documents in the Prime Minister's office and she must account for it. To now describe this leaker as a low-level employee ignores the fact that this person is based in her own office.

"There appears to have been a complete breakdown of the process. A review after the fact is simply not good enough. "Who tipped the messenger off to the contents of the document? How long has this messenger had access to secret documents, and how many other leaks are thought to have come from this source?

"This has landed right back in Helen Clark's lap and it highlights what can only be described as a cavalier approach to the handling of confidential Budget documents."

Mr Brownlee says the report provided today adds weight to National's call for a select committee inquiry so MPs and the public can have faith in the process going forward.

ENDS

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