Simon Power
National Party Law & Order Spokesman

8 September 2006

King confuses public over traffic de-merge report

Police Minister Annette King has deceived Parliament by claiming she had not had any progress reports on de-merging traffic enforcement from the Police when she had, says National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.

“On April 11 she told me in answer to a written question that the State Services Commission was reviewing the possibility of de-merging traffic enforcement from the Police but that ‘I have not had any progress reports on the review to date’.

“I then asked her in her capacity as Minister of State Services whether she had received any reports to which she also said she hadn’t.

“But on 14 August, in reply to an Official Information Act request, she supplied a list of reports and briefings received by her office from the Police Commissioner between 28 September 2005 and 31 March 2006, one of which was entitled ‘Investigation into Costs and benefits of De-merger of Road Safety Services from Police – Potential matters for consideration in developing a terms of reference.’

“So, when she said on April 11 that she had not had any progress reports on the review, she actually had, and her own office confirmed it on August 14.

“I would like to know what is going on in her office, and why she was saying she had not seen a report when she had.

“Did she have something to hide? Reviewing the possibility of de-merging traffic from the Police was, after all, part of the confidence and supply agreement with NZ First.

“So what is it that they are not prepared to release?”

ENDS

Attached: Table from Minister’s office, PQs 3797, 4391

See... http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0609/Police_Minister_OIA.pdf

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS – SIMON POWER

3797 (2006). Simon Power to the Minister of Police (11 Apr 2006): What are the dates and titles of any progress reports she has received since October 2005 on the possibility of de-merging traffic enforcement from the police?

Hon Annette King (Minister of Police) replied: Hon Annette King (Minister of Police) replies: As part of the Government's confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First, the State Services Commission is currently reviewing the possibility of de-merging traffic enforcement from the Police. I have not had any progress reports on the review to date.

4391 (2006). Simon Power to the Minister of State Services (27 Apr 2006): Further to the response to question for written answer 3797 (2006) by the Minister of Police, has she received any progress reports since October 2005 on the possibility of de-merging traffic enforcement from the police; if so, what are the dates and titles of these reports?

Hon Annette King (Minister of State Services) replied: No.

ENDS

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