Tue 15 Jun 2010 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Chris Carter Labour leader Phil Goff has sent Chris Carter home to consider his future, after the MP was demoted over his credit card spending and travel bills. Carter emerged from today's caucus meeting and made a statement to reporters which didn't contain any apology for his actions. He then dodged journalists' questions. He said he regrets being removed from the front bench of the Labour Party and dropping the Foreign Affairs portfolio. Stuff.co.nz reports that "a clearly angry" Goff has now made it clear that Carter's refusal to acknowledge he had let the public down and spent too much on travel had jeopardised his ranking in the caucus. "I want him to calm down and to think about the consequences of his actions and to make a measured decision," Goff says, according to the New Zealand Herald. "I'm not happy with his acknowledgement about how the public feel about excessive expenditure on travel. I think he's under stress, he's under pressure, I understand that." The Labour Leader says he expects the longtime MP to acknowledge why the public was concerned about excessive travel by ministers and MPs. UPDATE: Chris Carter has since released the following written apology: It is quite clear to me that a public apology is both demanded and required in regard to my expenses when travelling overseas on government business on the tax payer expense. I unreservedly apologise to the New Zealand public. This has been a very difficult time for me and it has been difficult to choose the right words to be said when under intense pressure from journalists. I acknowledge that my temperament when under pressure can make me appear as if I am not contrite or embarrassed. I assure the New Zealand public, I am. I pledge hard work and commitment to my electorate and to the New Zealand Labour Party, and I wish to put this matter behind me.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 15th June 2010 - 2:46pm