Mallard regrets Brash remark but sticks to his guns

Trevor Mallard

Senior Labour minister Trevor Mallard has expressed regret for "knocking the ball on" over his claims of American backing for National's election campaign.

Asked on TVNZ's Agenda programme on Saturday for evidence of the claims he made last Thursday, Mr Mallard said: "I stepped into a foreign policy that as education spokesperson I probably shouldn't have".

Asked if he regretted his statements he said: "I regret knocking the ball on, yes". But he said evidence of US backing National was still coming.

His out-of-the-blue attack on National last week, including claims its campaign was being financed and run from the US, is understood to have been unscripted and enraged Prime Minister Helen Clark.

It backfired badly a day later with the revelation that the person Mr Mallard claimed was helping National as their "bagman" - US billionaire Julian Robertson - had in fact given $1000 to Labour MP Dover Samuels' 1999 election campaign.

Mr Mallard had no comment for the Herald on Friday, and he refused to comment yesterday.

But on Agenda he appeared to defend his comments at the same time as expressing regret, saying he had been trying to point out National leader Don Brash's past comments on New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.

"What I did do is I quoted Don Brash and he said on our nuclear-free status: 'The likelihood is that if we put a proposal to the Americans which they find acceptable we would then seek a referendum for any change in the law'. And I made the point that New Zealanders value sovereignty, that the nuclear-free policy was an important part of our national identity."

Mr Mallard said evidence was "coming" to back his allegations.

National has vehemently denied US backing of its campaign and deputy leader Gerry Brownlee repeated the denial again, saying it was not influenced by any overseas group or person.

Despite Mr Mallard's outburst, Labour has continued with its change of advertising tack.

New billboards and adverts attack Dr Brash's credibility on issues such as the anti-nuclear policy and sending troops to Iraq. Labour says it brought forward the advert schedule by a week.

Parliament resumes tomorrow after a month-long recess with the Government aiming to pass Budget-related legislation and amendments to the Resource Management Act.

Its full run of three weeks depends on the election date. There are suggestions Helen Clark may announce the date today or tomorrow.

The last possible date is September 24, but September 17 is being widely touted as it would not clash with any major rugby fixtures.