Rt Hon Winston Peters New Zealand First Leader 13 May 2014 KEY COVERS UP COLLINS’ COVER UP OF “SUBSTANTIAL” CHINESE SUPPORT Justice Minister Judith Collins concealed payments made by the Chinese Government for her travel, accommodation and other costs during her trip to China and the Prime Minister was aware of this, claims Rt Hon Winston Peters. He says the minister deliberately failed to record the benefits in the Register of Pecuniary Interests and New Zealand First is asking for the case to be referred to the Privileges Committee. “This is the latest episode in a string of cover-ups around her trip to China, which she used to help her husband’s company Oravida when its milk exports to China were stopped. “The three Oravida contacts were a conflict of interest and therefore a breach of the Cabinet Manual. Her deliberate concealment of payments from the Register is another clear breach of the Cabinet Manual. “Prime Minister John Key was well aware that the Chinese Government was supporting the Minister. In the confidential Cabinet Travel Report that is only circulated within Cabinet, Minister Collins stated that she was “provided substantial support for all meetings, accommodation in Beijing and transportation and facilitation throughout the visit”. “Why did the Prime Minister then allow his minister to conceal this ‘substantial support’ from the Chinese Government by not listing them in the Register of Pecuniary Interests that is on public view. “Minister Collins did declare a set of books as a gift she received from the Chinese Government but failed to record the other contributions made by Beijing.” Mr Peters says he has asked the Speaker to refer the case to the Privileges Committee to enable all the facts to be disclosed. Authorised by Winston Peters, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 09:37:22 +0000
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