John Key must act today to stand down his Foreign Affairs Minister as the evidence mounts that Murray McCully has mislead both Cabinet and New Zealanders in his bid to further the interests of a Saudi businessman, the Green Party said today.
Today the Green Party revealed details in a 2011 letter to Mr McCully showing he had been actively involved in talks with Saudi businessman Hamood Al-Ali Al-Khalaf about the resumption of live sheep transports to Saudi Arabia since 2008.
John Key must act today to stand down his Foreign Affairs Minister as the evidence mounts that Murray McCully has mislead both Cabinet and New Zealanders in his bid to further the interests of a Saudi businessman, the Green Party said today.
“Murray McCully’s role as Foreign Affairs Minister has become untenable,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said.
Today the Green Party revealed details in a 2011 letter to Mr McCully showing he had been actively involved in talks with Saudi businessman Hamood Al-Ali Al-Khalaf about the resumption of live sheep transports to Saudi Arabia since 2008. Mr McCully last night denied ever discussing live sheep exports with the businessman.
“This is further proof Mr McCully has been misleading New Zealanders about his dealings with Mr Al-Khalaf,” Mr Shaw said.
“Mr McCully has been caught misleading both the Cabinet and the public over the deal with Mr Al- Khalaf.
“John Key must remove Murray McCully as Foreign Affairs Minister before he causes anymore embarrassment to New Zealand or costs us any more money.
“It’s not John Key’s job to watch his Foreign Affairs Minister’s back; it’s his job to ensure his Government is working in the interests of all New Zealand.
“At the moment, John Key’s Foreign Minister has shown he’s more interested in working in the interests of Mr Al-Khalaf.
“This is the second time Mr McCully’s been caught misleading over the deal with Mr Al-Khalaf.
“Murray McCully told Cabinet needed to strike an $11 million sheep export deal with Mr Al-Khalaf or the Saudi businessman would sue New Zealand. Now we know that there never was a threat to sue, and that the Government itself had suggested Mr Al-Khalaf take legal action,” said Mr Shaw.
