Doubt lingers on Collins after Cabinet Office advice kept secret

Doubt about Judith Collins’ visit to the Chinese headquarters of Oravida will linger while the Cabinet Office advice about any conflict of interest is kept secret, Labour MP Grant Robertson says.

“Judith Collins is arrogantly trying to diminish her visit to Oravida’s office. The reality is this was a well-planned photo opportunity on a taxpayer-funded trip to a company where the Minister’s husband is a Director, and who donated more than $55,000 to the National Party.

“That raises serious issues about conflict of interest.

John Key has said the Cabinet Office assured him there has been no breach of ministerial rules but without seeing what questions were asked and exactly what that advice says, the public cannot be confident that all questions about conflict of interest have been dealt with.

“Judith Collins said she didn’t endorse the company’s product, yet her photograph and comments praising Oravida remained on its website until they were highlighted this week.

“This reeks of a conflict of interest.

“National ministers have been painfully aware since the demise of Pansy Wong that they need to avoid at all costs doing anything in their role as a Minister that looks like it benefits them or their families.

“John Key said he would demand a high standard of behaviour. Judith Collins’ behaviour falls far short of that and of what most New Zealanders would expect from their ministers,” says Grant Robertson.

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