Grant Robertson
Deputy Leader

27 March 2012

Inquiry even more necessary after Minister drops ACC chair in it

ACC Minister Judith Collins has hung her own board chairman out to dry in a desperate act of self-preservation, Labour’s deputy leader Grant Robertson says.

“Ms Collins summoned ACC chair John Judge to Parliament today for a ‘please explain’ over the leaking of information about claimant Bronwyn Pullar to the media.

“During questioning in the House she refused to say who she thought was responsible for the leak, despite having said only four people had the information – herself, an office staffer, Mr Judge and ACC chief executive Ralph Stewart.

“Ms Collins was adamant the information hadn’t come from her office. She had asked Mr Judge about the privacy breach; he denied any involvement.

“She has said she is not responsible, nor was her staff member. That leaves her chairman and her chief executive under the spotlight. She has hung them out to dry.

“This has been a fiasco from the start. It smacks of cronyism and leaves the impression with many that if you know someone in the National party, then you’ll be treated differently by ACC.

“A full, independent inquiry into this whole sorry saga is not only called for but should be a priority,” Grant Robertson said.

ENDS

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