NSW: Minister should resign over massacre claims Oppn

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2001
NSW: Minister should resign over massacre claims Oppn

The New South Wales opposition says state education minister JOHN AQUILINA must resign
over the bungled announcement of a teenage boy's alleged school massacre plot.

Mr Aquilina's press secretary, PATRICK LOW, has tendered his resignation over the incident
after he and another government staffer leaked false information about the boy having
access to a gun.

Opposition leader KERRY CHIKAROVSKI has told ABC radio that Mr LOW is beeing used as
a scapegoat by Mr Aquilina, who should take responsibility for the actions of his staff.

She says the move typical of the way Labor Party's been running the state.

Mrs CHIKAROVSKI says there's no way a press secretary would have made comments regarding
a gun without the authority of the minister, because it was too big an issue.

The Opposition referred the matter to the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption
last week for investigation.

AAP RTV kp/sal/rt

KEYWORD: MASSACRE OPPN (SYDNEY)

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