Minister gets a serve over case

Opposition parties have questioned David Benson-Pope's suitability to be Minister for Social Development after police found there was a prima facie case that he assaulted students while working as a teacher.

National, Act and the Maori Party delivered a concerted attack on the Cabinet minister in Parliament yesterday, questioning his ability to do his job and whether he was given special treatment by police.

At least two MPs brought tennis balls - Mr Benson-Pope is alleged to have shoved a ball into a student's mouth - to the House to emphasise their points.

The minister was notable by his absence from the House, choosing instead to meet British comedian John Cleese.

The political attack sent a strong message that while police have decided not to prosecute Mr Benson-Pope, the Opposition are not going to drop the issue and it will continue to cause Labour and Mr Benson-Pope political embarrassment.

National Party welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins asked if the police finding that there was a prima facie case undermined Mr Benson-Pope's ability to be Minister for Social Development and Employment, a primary role of which was to ensure the protection and safety of children.

Associate Minister of Social Development Ruth Dyson, answering on behalf of Mr Benson-Pope, said it was inappropriate to comment on police findings.

Ms Collins then asked if Mr Benson-Pope would like to apologise to the students he is alleged to have assaulted.

"No," said Ms Dyson.

Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen asked Ms Collins, who was holding a tennis ball, to prove it was physically possible to fit it in her mouth.

"It is one of the bigger ones around the House," he said.

"Here is the ball," Ms Collins responded, "He [Dr Cullen] might like to show us by putting it in his mouth. It is a deflated tennis ball. It can be done, and it was done."

Act leader Rodney Hide asked if the Police Minister could confirm that 19 students had independently confirmed to police that Mr Benson-Pope tied a student's hands to the desk and jammed a tennis ball in his mouth.

Dr Cullen, answering on behalf of the Police Minister, said he could not confirm it but went on to make allegations that the accusers had in fact been bullies themselves.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira asked if the decision not to prosecute Mr Benson-Pope was an example of "one law for all" or whether it was white privilege.

The Government denied this.

National also questioned whether Mr Benson-Pope had received special treatment and whether the police report into the case would be released to the public.

Dr Cullen said police would decide if the report was to be released.

Meanwhile, Mr Hide's bid to have an inquiry into whether Mr Benson-Pope misled Parliament was rejected yesterday by Speaker Margaret Wilson, who ruled that his complaint was dealt with in May when he first raised the issue.

Mr Hide said he would put a motion of notice to the House, when it resumed on December 6, to force a vote on whether to send the matter to the Privileges Committee.