A tetchy Chris Carter today refused to answer media questions about his demotion from Labour's front bench over the credit card expenses scandal.Other offenders, Shane Jones and Mita Ririnui, fronted and answered questions on their way into Labour's caucu
A tetchy Chris Carter today refused to answer media questions about his demotion from Labour's front bench over the credit card expenses scandal.
Other offenders, Shane Jones and Mita Ririnui, fronted and answered questions on their way into Labour's caucus meeting this morning but Mr Carter arrived early to avoid facing the same scrutiny.
After an hour-and-a-half he finally emerged to issue a terse statement, refused to answer questions, then retreated to his office, swearing when a door he wanted to get through to wouldn't open immediately.
His handling of the affair was in sharp contrast to the openness of leader Phil Goff and other Labour MPs.
Mr Carter was demoted from seven to 13 in the party rankings and lost foreign affairs, but was given conservation so fared better than Mr Jones or Mr Ririnui.
Mr Carter would not say whether he felt the changes were justified.
"I accept Phil's decision of course, he's the leader and I am always loyal to the leader," he said.
"Do I regret going off the front bench of the Labour Party and dropping the foreign affairs portfolio? I sure do because it's a great honour and a privilege to be on the front bench and I have always been really interested in foreign affairs. It was always the job I most wanted.
"I am moving on, I am really grateful that Mr Goff has given me the conservation portfolio I loved the five years I spent as Conservation Minister and I am looking forward to protecting New Zealand's unique landscapes and biodiversity with enthusiasm and gusto."
Mr Carter was repeatedly warned about his credit card use, but was still caught misusing it. He paid for movies and a spa in hotels, repaid some money and said he would reimburse any other wrongful spending discovered.
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