Was Our Knowledge of Iraq Deployment Too Much for Gerry?
After New Zealand First revealed the true facts about New Zealand’s deployment to Iraq months ago, it seems the Defence
Minister’s office may have taken exception.
The office of Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee is now refusing to answer written questions from New Zealand First MP
Darroch Ball and other New Zealand First MPs. He’s stonewalling on 38 questions.
“While we said in November 130-140 personnel were training and preparing to go to Iraq, the Minister denied it,” said
New Zealand First Social Development spokesperson and former army officer Darroch Ball. “Yesterday we were proved right,
as we knew we were.”
“But now multiple emails and phone calls have not raised a response from the Minister’s office. There hasn’t even been
an acknowledgement to the written questions being received.
“Surely a government must make its best effort to answer questions, and if there is a problem, at least make a simple
effort to communicate.
“How can the New Zealand public have any confidence that the Government will be open and truthful about the risks our
troops are facing while in Iraq if we can’t even get simple answers on issues at home,” says Mr Ball.
His questions were on matters around the Limited Service Volunteer programme.
“We have written to the Speaker and submitted the questions once again.”
ENDS