A Royal Commission into the government's conduct will be a bottom line for New Zealand First if it is in a position to negotiate forming a government after the election.
Yesterday Prime Minister John Key officially announced an inquiry that will focus on allegations that former Justice Minister Judith Collins may been involved in efforts to undermine the then head of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley, in 2011. Ms Collins strongly denies the allegations.
Winston Peters says NZ First will not form a government with any party that refuses a Commission of Inquiry.
Despite demands from opposition parties, Mr Key has rejected the idea of holding a full scale commission into all the allegations made against the National government and its staff.
Mr Peters said a proper inquiry should also look into the emails behind the book Dirty Politics. "An inquiry should get at the truth and the personnel and the terms of reference are critical for that to happen," he told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme. "Anything short of that will be deeply condemned by the public because the truth will have been denied them.
Labour would reserve the right to broaden an inquiry into whether Judith Collins tried to undermine the director of the Serious Fraud Office, if elected to government. And Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei agrees that given the seriousness of the allegations a Royal Commission would be the only way to get to the bottom of what has been happening.
