23 Aug 2014

Minister faces media over Dirty Politics

9:54 pm on 23 August 2014

Justice Minister Judith Collins says she will not be apologising to a public servant for leaking his name and details to a blogger.

Judith Collins.

Justice Minister Judith Collins said it would not be appropriate for her to offer her resignation. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Ms Collins faced a barrage of questions from reporters in Auckland this afternoon.

During a brief exchange, she denied colluding with Cameron Slater, known as Whale Oil.

She said she would not be saying sorry to the civil servant, Simon Pleasants, because she was focused on law and order, and justice.

She told reporters she did not believe her reputation had been tarnished by revelations in the book Dirty Politics.

"I actually think that what I'm hearing out in the Papakura electorate and everywhere else that I'm going is that people are really focused on the issues of law and order, on health, and education and welfare, and what they really want us to do is talk about them."

Ms Collins said it would not be appropriate for her to offer her resignation.

Public Service Association acting national secretary Glenn Barclay repeated his call for Ms Collins to resign on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Key said Ms Collins had been held responsible and that there was no need for further action.

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