Lack of decision on investigation call criticised

Press, 8 May 1986, Page 36

Lack of decision on investigation call criticised

PA Wellington No decision has yet been made on whether to call a formal investigation into the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, said the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble.

The Opposition spokesman on transport, Mr Winston Peters, said the delay showed the sinking was being used as a “propaganda exercise.” Mr Prebble, answering a question by Mr Peters, said he had received a preliminary report on the sinking on August 26, 1985.

“A decision as to whether or not to call for a formal investigation has not yet been made as I am still assessing the legal implications of calling such an investigation,” Mr Prebble said. However, Mr Peters said the lack of a decision was a “damning indictment” of the Minister.

“The Rainbow Warrior is taking up valuable wharf space and the Government is paying costly berthage fees for no sound reason,” he said. “It is clear that the Minister is delaying making a decision for propaganda purposes at the public’s expense. "The only reason Mr Prebble can possibly now have for this inordinate delay is that he wants to keep the issue before the public mind as a diversion from pressing economic issues.” Mr Peters said the speed with which Mr Prebble had decided not to call for a formal investigation into the foundering of the liner Mikhail Lermontov in Cook Strait in February, stood in “stark contrast” to the Minister’s delay and “vacillation” over the Rainbow Warrior.