A 1999 news story
The New Zealand Post, February 1999
CALLS FOR SHIPLEY TO STAND DOWN
The Government is facing allegations of lying and corruption today with Opposition Leader Helen Clark calling for Prime Minister Jenny Shipley to stand down while allegations about her activities with Kevin Roberts are investigated by an independent authority.
In relation to the previously secret loan from Mr Roberts to National Miss Clark stated “It was bad enough that the Prime Minister had dinner with Mr Roberts and discussed politics with him, but the revelation Mr Roberts secretly lent Shipley’s party $100,000 with no interest is proof that we have not been told the full truth. What favours did Jenny Shipley arrange for Kevin Roberts in return for his $100,000 loan. Did she pull strings for him?”
Mrs Shipley was refusing to comment on the secret loan, but a spokesperson said that the amount lent was inconsequential. But Labour is tying it into his recent award from the Queen, saying “This also calls into doubt the Prime Minister’s assurance that the recent New Years Honour award to Mr Roberts was for services to advertising and tourism instead of services to the National Party. It has the stench of political corruption about it”
Miss Clark also called into account the integrity of both Mr Roberts and Mrs Shipley over his $500,000 donation to the National party in 1993. Mr Roberts claims he donated the money to help National fight off the threat from the new ACT Party, but the ACT Party was not formed until 1995. Clark was unequivocal stating “He is lying, and Mrs Shipley needs to tell us the real reason why he gave her party $500,000.”
“Is it because Jenny Shipley secretly offered him the job of Minister of Tourism in a National-led Government that he made his donation? Mrs Shipley denies making any such offer, but voters want to know whether they should believe her or believe her close friend Mr Roberts?”
“Even worse there is a rumour that Jenny Shipley is planning to appoint Kevin Roberts as NZ’s Honorary Consul to Monaco. It is bad enough that Mr Roberts avoids paying tax on his billions of dollars by taking advantage of a tax haven like Monaco, but outrageous that Jenny Shipley would consider rewarding him for his tax avoiding activities by making him NZ’s official representative to the tax haven.”
“We do not trust Mrs Shipley to tell the truth on this matter, so we will not be giving her leave to make a personal explanation in Parliament to explain herself, as this requires us to accept her word.”
The Labour Leader said Labour wants an independent commission to investigate the following issues:
- Did Mrs Shipley offer Mr Roberts any role in a future Government, or suggest he would be a strong contender for such a role?
- Did Mrs Shipley know of the secret $100,000 loan to National when she awarded Mr Roberts an official honour, and how many of her Ministers knew of the loan?
- Why did Mrs Shipley’s Government consider appointing Mr Roberts as Consul to Monaco? The commission should require and release all notes and documents relating to discussions of appointing Mr Roberts as Consul.
- What were the reasons Mr Roberts donated $500,000 to National in 1993. As his testimony has been proven to be false, we believe the independent commission should require testimony under oath from all parties involved in the donation?
- Why did the National Party President tell the media that National had received no donations from Mr Roberts since 1993, when he had made an interest free loan in 1998 – the same year he got awarded an honour?
- Who did the Labour Party members of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee consult with, when in the space of just one hour they reversed their vote on a law change to ban foreign donations, so that Mr Roberts would not be barred from donating to the National Party in future
- What actually was discussed at their dinner together?
Helen Clark has been joined by Jim Anderton and Winston Peters in her call from the Prime Minister to stand down from her role, while the allegations are investigated.