Media statement For immediate release Thursday, 30 October 2008

Dunne: Labour's backfiring smear confirms Nat decision

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says the desperate Labour Party attempt to dredge up twenty-year-old events in an effort to discredit National leader John Key is confirmation UnitedFuture was right in deciding not to support a Labour-led government.

"This nasty attempt at character assassination does no credit to Labour and risks the current election campaign degenerating into sewer politics.

"This appears to be the basis on which Labour wants to build a governing coalition and we want no part of it.

"Nor should other MMP parties who have declared a willingness to work with Labour.

"Labour leader Helen Clark claims Mr Key has questions to answer relating to his involvement in the Equiticorp fraud, resulting from investigations in Melbourne by Labour Party president, Mike Williams.

"Well, so what? Who cares what Mr Williams thinks about who should answer what question? I don’t see his name on the ballot paper.

"A requirement to respond to this proposition would be the same as the president of the ACT Party, following a visit to Monaco, claiming Mike Williams and Helen Clark have questions to answer about their involvement in the Owen Glenn donation to Winston Peters.

"New Zealanders, particularly in this time of international economic crisis, are looking for a new direction in politics from our leadership rather than the rancid tactics of a decaying government shown by this episode.

"I thought Labour were better than this," said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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