Clark says her staff were mistaken on legal opinion

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday conceded her staff "made a mistake" in assuming there was a Crown Law report into allegations of art fraud against her.

But she quashed suggestions her staff deliberately lied about the legal opinion.

It was reported for over a week that a Crown Law Office opinion found she did not commit fraud when she signed a painting she did not do.

However, on Friday, the Crown Law Office said there was no such opinion given, even though a spokesman for the Prime Minister said to media that there had been one.

In Parliament yesterday, National leader Bill English asked if Helen Clark would reprimand her staff for providing "misleading advice" on the issue to the media.

"My understanding is that ... the spokesperson pointed out that he had been mistaken and had assumed the existence of a report because of media comments about one. There is no need for further action."

Then in reference to National President Michelle Boag's attempts to rid the National Party of underachievers, she added: "I do not go around Boaging my staff."

Act leader Richard Prebble asked if Helen Clark now regretted "that a spokesman on her behalf lied to the media" about the opinion and if "that is the standard she expects from her staff?"

But Helen Clark said she did "not accept that a spokesperson lied" and repeated that he was "mistaken".

In response to questions from UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne, she said that she would meet any legal costs she incurred in relation to the inquiry into her art work.

She earlier admitted putting her signature on about half a dozen artworks painted or drawn by other people and sold for charity.

Last month, it was revealed that a painting she signed about three years ago, beforeshe became Prime Minister, was sold for$1000.

She repaid the money.

- NZPA