Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:628;Page:608] 
5.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Does he stand by his statement in the House yesterday when he said: “Can I stress that I believe I have acted in a perfectly upfront way in all matters and have not been deceitful.”; if so why? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Yes as I said in the House yesterday although I was not aware of any restraint placed on me with regard to the files in my possession in hindsight I recognise that releasing details was not the wisest course of action. At the time the material was given to a Sunday newspaper to provide a more accurate analysis of the number of students who supported me and did not support the allegations against me than the misinformation provided to the House last week by Rodney Hide. 
Judith Collins 
: If as the Minister says he has acted in a perfectly upfront way in all matters and has not been deceitful why is it that he changed his story yesterday when he said he did not recall the alleged events from his statement made in the House on 12 May when he said: “I find such allegations ridiculous and I refute them.”; or is that because he no longer stands by his statement made on 12 May? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I can confirm that my statement made in the House yesterday was to the effect that I am one of the 19 people who either do not recall the alleged events or do not believe they happened. 
Judith Collins 
: When the Minister authorised his press secretary to leak selective parts of the police report to a Sunday newspaper what did he tell his press secretary to say to the media in case they asked where the leak came from? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I gave no instructions other than being completely honest with the media to my press secretary. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister stand by his press release on Sunday which stated that the police report vindicates his position and how is that not deceitful given that the police report showed there were nine credible witnesses to the incident and that the police believed them? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes I do stand by the statement. The prime reason is that 19 individuals including myself in that class either have no recollection of any such alleged incident or refute it absolutely. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister stand by his statement to the House yesterday: “Can I stress that the analysis that was released was in no way selective.”; if so would he please explain how neglecting to include any evidence that might point to his guilt is neither selective nor deceitful? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes and that document contained reference to statements not in support of me. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister stand by his press release on Sunday: “Now that the investigation has concluded he does not feel constrained talking about the case.”; if so why will he not front up to the media and talk about the case? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I point out to the member that the police investigation recommended no further action and for me that is where the matter rests. 
Judith Collins 
: What did the Minister mean when he told the House on 12 May that he refuted the allegation and he found the allegation ridiculous? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I listened carefully to the member’s question. The Minister is not responsible for actions or what was said on 12 May in the previous Parliament when he was the Associate Minister of Education. I ask that the question be rephrased so that it is consistent with the Minister’s ministerial responsibilities. 
Judith Collins 
: When the Minister told the House yesterday that he had no recollection of the incident and he was one of the 19 people who could not recall it or did not believe it had happened did he mean the same thing as saying that he refuted the allegation and found it ridiculous? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: The questioner has mixed up two statements in that question. What I said to the House yesterday was that I am one of the 19 people in the class who either do not recall the alleged events or do not believe they happened.