Key´s ethical low-point

Police documents released last week show that John Banks solicited campaign donations from Kim Dotcom, and that the election return Banks signed was false because it declared these donations as anonymous.
The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration.
 "The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law.
The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today.
"By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them.
This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister.¨

Russel Norman refrains from making chicken noises at John Key, but still reads him his pedigree. Key´s behaviour is shameful. His protection of Banks is as dingy as it gets in politics. So many people hoped Key would be better than this.
He isn´t.

Here´s Russel Norman´s full statement:



The Prime Minister's test for ethical behaviour has reached a new low, now it's okay to sign false documents so long as you don't check them first, the Green Party said today. Police documents released last week show that John Banks solicited campaign donations from Kim Dotcom, and that the election return Banks signed was false because it declared these donations as anonymous. The police decided not to prosecute on the basis that Mr Banks said he hadn't checked the declaration. "The Prime Minister's persistent defence in this debacle has been that his Minister promised that he didn't break the law. The police consider a law was broken but can't prosecute because of a time restriction," Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today. "By not taking firm action over the John Banks affair John Key is effectively telling New Zealand that signing false documents is okay as you don't check them. This is an ethical low point of his term as Prime Minister. "Everyday New Zealanders can't get away with signing documents without reading them so why should John Banks? "If you sign a mortgage document or other legal contracts you can't walk away from them just because you didn't read them. "John Banks and John Key have one set of rules for themselves and a different set for everyone else. "It's not surprising the voters of Epsom are now saying no more tea parties and want John Banks gone. "The reason Key will continue to fudge his rules for acceptable Ministerial behaviour is because he needs John Bank's vote to push through their unpopular agenda of asset sales, job losses and increasing inequality." said Dr Norman.