National outraged over tractor protest charge

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

The National Party is outraged MP Shane Ardern is being charged with offensive behaviour after he drove a tractor up Parliament's steps during last Thursday's flatulence tax protest.

The move sparked an attack from National leader Bill English in Parliament yesterday as he compared the police's actions in charging Mr Ardern with their failure to charge Prime Minister Helen Clark with forgery over "paintergate".

National MP Murray McCully labelled the officer who decided to charge Mr Ardern an "idiot", and accused the police of wasting their own resources and court time.

Inspector Marty Grenfell, Wellington area police controller, said the MP was advised yesterday morning of the charge following his actions last week in twice driving the tractor up Parliament's steps during the noisy protest.

Mr Grenfell said the investigation was treated "no differently to any other stunt committed during protest action in recent months".

Mr Ardern, the MP for Taranaki-King Country, would be summonsed to appear in the Wellington District Court on a date yet to be determined. He was in his electorate and failed to return Herald's calls, but told television news last night that in hindsight he would not have driven the tractor up the steps. However, he would "always defend the right to stand up and protest for farmers".

After the protest Speaker Jonathan Hunt called Mr Ardern into his office for a telling off and on Tuesday he read a written apology to Parliament from the MP.

National then took Mr Hunt to task for not taking similar decisive action when Labour MP Harry Duynhoven breached the Electoral Act by applying for Dutch citizenship.

And yesterday in Parliament Mr English said it was an "outrage" Helen Clark criticised Mr Ardern's actions when she had refused to co-operate with the police probe into "paintergate" which arose after she signed a painting she did not paint.

The painting was sold for charity and although police investigated, no charges were laid.

Mr English said the penalty for forgery was seven years, jail, while the penalty for Mr Ardern's actions was a fine of up to $1000.

"Not only did Helen Clark not co-operate with police but as the police report points out, the evidence was destroyed after media commentaries that there could be charges but before the active police investigation began."

Mr McCully told Parliament the public could not understand how police could find time to do an "instantaneous investigation" into Mr Ardern when they could not investigate burglaries, assaults and other serious crimes.

"I have a message for the Commissioner of Police - get a grip," Mr McCully said.

Police Minister George Hawkins said in a statement the so-called "law and order" party was becoming the "disorder party" when one of its own was charged.

Act leader Richard Prebble told Parliament he was stunned by the police's decision.

"There is no doubt in my mind the police were reacting to the strong press statements issued by the Speaker and statements by the Prime Minister and other ministers clearly designed to influence the police."

Mr Hunt refused to comment.

The charge

* Section 4 of the Summary Offences Act covers offensive behaviour or language.

* It carries a fine of up to $1000 for those who "in or within view of any public place" behave in an offensive or disorderly manner.

* National MP Shane Ardern is being charged after driving a tractor up Parliament's steps, but his job is not in jeopardy as the Electoral Act makes a seat vacant only if the MP is convicted of an offence punishable by a jail term of two or more years.