4 September 2006
Brash's baffling bid for moral high ground
Don Brash should be careful when bringing morality into the debate on election spending, Labour strategist Pete Hodgson
said today.
"Don Brash has been busy spinning himself into knots over election spending," Pete Hodgson said. "Today he's taken the
bizarre step of claiming the moral high ground in the debate.
"This is despite the fact that his party broke the law and blew their TV advertising budget by $100,000 and are refusing
to pay broadcasters the money unless all other parties pass retrospective legislation to make it legal.
"It's despite the fact that his own party accepted over $1 million in help from the Exclusive Brethren and then lied
about it to the country.
"It's despite the fact that National is funnelling anonymous donations through trusts to allow their rich backers to
finance their campaign in secrecy.
"It's despite the fact that National is expected to pledge to privatise ACC in return for donations from the insurance
industry.
"Labour is not the only party waiting to see the Auditor General's final report – and National should be worried about
how their own use of Parliamentary Services funding will be judged.
"Don Brash needs to be careful about even mentioning the moral high ground, let alone trying to claim it."
ENDS