Cullen accused of losing the plot after outburst caught on camera

Michael Cullen last night faced further accusations that he has lost the plot on tax cuts, after TVNZ screened footage of the Finance Minister losing his temper with a journalist.

The angry exchange took place in Dr Cullen's Beehive office as cameras were being set up for an interview on the findings of a One News poll on the Budget.

The cameras captured the Finance Minister berating TVNZ political editor Guyon Espiner about the coverage a number of journalists working for media organisations in the press gallery had given the Budget.

It revealed the intense personal pressure he is under over the issue.

He accused those working for the Herald, the Dominion Post, The Press and TVNZ of skewing the Budget debate with biased reporting driven by their personal support for tax cuts.

"I absolutely believe it is a personal issue for some members of the press gallery. I'm absolutely sure that a number of members of the press gallery cannot look at this issue in a very objective fashion at all.

"The Dom said it on the Thursday morning [of the Budget], '$8.5 billion surplus and still no tax cuts.' So? What's the connection between the two? None."

National MP John Key said the attack showed Dr Cullen's career was in its death throes. "Dr Cullen's irrational and personal attacks ... show he's a man buckling under pressure."

He was blaming the media "but he's shooting the messenger", Mr Key said. "The One News poll last Sunday showed voters support tax cuts which Dr Cullen failed to deliver in his Bondi Budget. But the public knows a massive surplus when they see one."

The Government last night turned its guns on TVNZ for screening the interchange.

Dr Cullen's spokeman said "the conversation was off the record, the interview had not started. There was no indication the cameras were rolling".

The poll revealed only 10 per cent of people were supportive of Dr Cullen's recent Budget. As many as 63 per cent believed the Government could have afforded tax cuts.

Dr Cullen's seventh Budget revealed a $8.46 billion operating surplus for the year ended June 30, much higher than the $5.55 billion forecast in December.

Taxing comments

"I absolutely believe it is a personal issue for some members of the press gallery" - Michael Cullen

"Dr Cullen's irrational and personal attacks ... show he's a man buckling under pressure" - John Key