United Future
Hon Peter Dunne

Dunne writes to insulted select committee submitters

"I wrote to all 58 submitters - those in favour of the bill and those against it - to extend my sympathy over the insult delivered to them by these four parties.

"Never in my time in Parliament, have submitters on any piece of legislation been treated with such disdain - and I hope I never see the likes of this again.

"It was a total abuse of the democratic process and an arrogant disregard for each and every submitter, many of whom came from all over New Zealand at considerable cost and effort to make oral submissions," Mr Dunne said.

"They deserved better - and I have told them that," he said.

All four parties ought to write letters of apology to each submitter, he said, noting the "rather twisted logic" that saw the unamended Bill return to Parliament on the same day Winston Peters "almost mockingly" committed NZ First to making referendums binding.

"Winstonís never met a referendum he didnít like, but donít waste your time making a submission to Parliament, because heíll just turn his back and walk away. Very sad politics indeed," Mr Dunne said.

Ends.