Blogger apologises to MP

Right-wing blogger Cameron Slater has unreservedly apologised to Labour MP Chris Carter for wrongly accusing him of rorting the system and getting taxpayers to pay for a family member's phone bill.

On Sunday Mr Slater, on his whaleoil blogsite, made a vitriolic attack on Mr Carter for having his mother's phone bill picked up by the taxpayer. But Chris Carter said that was not possible, as his mother had died 17 years ago.

The incident in question related to National MP John Carter and the phone account in question was entirely within the rules.