John Banks resigns as Minister
By Heather McCracken , Claire Trevett
ACT Leader John Banks has resigned from his ministerial posts effective immediately in the wake of the Auckland District Court decision to send him to trial over his donations.
Mr Banks said he had told the Prime Minister's office last week that he would offer his resignation if the matter was committed to trial.
"I have spoken to the Prime Minister this afternoon and he has accepted my resignation.
"I believe the decision in the Auckland District Court was wrong and I will be contesting the charge. However I do not want this to be a distraction from the Government's programme."
Mr Key is due to address media on the matter soon.
Mr Banks said said he would continue to support the Government on confidence and supply votes, and would stay on as MP for Epsom and Act leader.
"My focus will now be on clearing my name and serving the people of Epsom," Mr Banks said.
Mr Banks' resignation means National has lost two of its support party ministers - United Future leader Peter Dunne resigned as minister after refusing to provide emails to an inquiry into the leak of a GCSB report.
Mr Key said he had accepted Mr Banks offer to resign as a minister.
"Mr Banks indicated to my Chief of Staff late last week that in the event the Judge ruled against him, he would tender his resignation as a Minister," Mr Key says.
"It is with regret that I announce today that I have accepted that resignation, and will be advising the Governor-General accordingly."
Mr Key said that even though the events occurred before Mr Banks entered Parliament in 2011, "this is totally the right call".
He said that if Mr Banks was found not guilty or made a successful appeal, he would be reinstated as a minister.
The Prime Minister said Mr Banks had been an able, competent and reliable minister.
Mr Banks had confirmed that he would continue to meet the terms of Act's confidence and supply agreement with the National Party, which meant key pieces of legislation would not be affected.
Mr Key said Mr Banks' small business and regulatory reform portfolios would be reallocated this week.
Banks had denied the charge of filing a false electoral return after Wellington man Graham McCready filed a private prosecution against him.
In the Auckland District Court this afternoon, Phil Gittos said sufficient evidence had been presented to send the matter to trial.
Mr McCready was not in court for the decision this afternoon.
McCready supporter Penny Bright told reporters he had not attended court today because he was not well and was not feeling confident after yesterday's hearing.
Banks' lawyer David Jones, QC, said he would plead not guilty.
Banks was remanded at large until December 17.
Prime Minister John Key said he intended to read the judgement this afternoon.
"I'll then have a conversation with Mr Banks and in due course I'll decide the next course of action.''
Mr Key refused to comment on whether Banks would be stood down pending the trial and its outcome.
"I'll have that conversation with Mr Banks about what our next steps are and then I'll communicate that to you most probably this afternoon.''
Mr Key said he understood there was nothing to prevent Banks from continuing to vote on legislation including the International Convention Centre bill between now and the outcome of the trial.
"From a majority perspective it makes no difference.''
He did not believe there was any conflict of interest for Banks over the bill due to SkyCity's involvement in his electoral finances.
"It relates to his mayoralty campaign.''
But Labour leader David Cunliffe said Prime Minister John Key should stand Mr Banks down immediately.
Asked why he should be stood down when he had not been found guilty, Mr Cunliffe replied: "The appropriate thing is to stand him down temporarily. If he's exonerated, he can be reinstated."
He added: "He is standing trial for an offence which, if convicted, would require him to resign from Parliament."
Mr McCready also took a private prosecution in 2009 against Labour MP Trevor Mallard - a minister at the time - for assault. Mr Mallard pleaded guilty to fighting in public.
Mr Cunliffe said he would have to be briefed on that case before he could comment.
The Labour leader said that Mr Key was "between a rock and a hard place" because Mr Banks made up his Government's "paper-thin" majority.
"Mr Key is going to have a few sleepless nights because he's going to have less scope to pass odious bills that would require the Act Party to support."
Green Party leader Metiria Turei also called for Mr Banks to be stood down as a minister and said he should abstain on voting on legislation which related to SkyCity.
She said that the Act leader had a "very serious" conflict of interest because SkyCity chief Nigel Morrison would be required to give evidence at his trial.
"John Banks is reliant on the evidence of the SkyCity CEO. If he is convicted on the basis of that evidence, John Banks will lose his job as a member of Parliament. SkyCity is dependent on John Banks' vote to have the SkyCity bill passed.
"That relationship is a serious conflict of interest."
The decision came after hearing yesterday during which internet mogul Kim Dotcom gave evidence that he was offended when told Banks wanted his $50,000 mayoral campaign donation to be anonymous.
Mr Dotcom said he was asked to split his donation into two anonymous $25,000 cheques.
"My reaction at first was I asked him why and I kind of felt offended,'' he told the court.
Mr Dotcom also confirmed Banks was flown in his private helicopter from Mechanics Bay in central Auckland to the Dotcom mansion in Coatesville in 2010.
Mr Dotcom's head of security Wayne Tempero also gave evidence of being present on the helicopter flight, and at a meeting in Coatesville when the two $25,000 cheques were discussed.
SkyCity boss Nigel Morrison told the court of handing Banks a cheque in an envelope at a meeting in 2010.
Mr Morrison confirmed details from his statement made to police in 2012, including that he made the same donations to Banks' and Len Brown's mayoral campaigns.
Banks' donation was handed over during a 10-minute meeting in Mr Morrison's office.
- APNZ作者: anzac_corp 时间: 2013-10-16 19:41:34
这个人给人的印象就是老奸巨猾和信口雌黄。作者: AUGUSTUS 时间: 2013-10-17 10:48:08
