Armstrong says Williamson sees things rather differently. Photo / Stuart Monroe
In managing what others say is the potential for a serious conflict of interest in his Building and Construction portfolio, Maurice Williamson has followed Cabinet rules to the letter.
He has bent over backwards to ensure his directorship in Holyoake Industries, a supplier of heating and air conditioning systems, falls
within conflict of interest guidelines laid out for ministers in the Cabinet manual.
Labour isn't buying it. The Opposition party says while Williamson might well argue he is operating within the rules, there is no question he is still in breach of the spirit of those rules.
Williamson sees things rather differently. It seems to be almost a point of principle with him that he not be forced to divest himself of the directorship because opponents suggest there is a perception of a conflict of interest when he has made every effort to be transparent in order to demonstrate there isn't one.
As required by the manual, Williamson declared the directorship - which predates his appointment to the Building and Construction portfolio - in the MPs' register of pecuniary interests.
