Question Time September 11, 2008 Question 1_1 Transcript

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement today that she has no basis to remove the Rt Hon Winston Peters ministerial warrant; if so, why?


Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: What the Prime Minister actually said earlier today was that the proceedings of Parliaments Privileges Committee last night provided no basis for her to remove Mr Peters ministerial warrant today.

Hon Bill English: Can the Prime Minister confirm that one of her roles is to supervise the application of the Cabinet Manual to her Ministers, which says that at all times Ministers are expected to behave in a way that upholds and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards; and, by refusing to sack Mr Peters, is she telling the New Zealand public that she believes that he has, at all times over the last 6 months, behaved in a way that upholds and is seen to uphold the highest ethical standards?

Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN: One of the very highest ethical standards that any Prime Minister should seek to uphold is the rule of law. That means going through proper process.

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