Shane Jones rejects call to resign over intervention in prosecution of a Northland transport company

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Revelations about evidence from Filipino truck drivers being used in a NZ Transport Agency case against a Northland trucking company have fuelled a call for Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones' resignation.  

But Jones, who is also associate Minister of Transport, said he had no intention of resigning, as he was just doing his job in championing the regions.

He has support from trucking industry group, the Road Transport Forum, which objected to the agency encouraging employees to 'squeal' on employers via a hotline seeking reports of illegal activity.

Jones has been under fire from National for allegedly interfering in attempts to revoke Stan Semenoff Logging's transport service licence by discussing the case with the agency's chief executive while it was before the High Court. 

**READ MORE:

* [Shane Jones will only be encouraged by calls for him to resign

* Shane Jones steps into case between company owned by 'my mother's cousin' and NZTA](https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111985299/shane-jones-will-only-be-encouraged-by-calls-for-him-to-resign)

* Northland's Stan Semenoff Logging trucking company given a court reprieve over safety concerns

* Whangarei-based logging trucks ordered off the road over safety concerns**

National's Economic and Regional Development spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, said Jones' responses during parliamentary question time on Thursday further confirmed the extent of his interference in the prosecution process.

Stan Semenoff Logging (SSL) is currently fighting the revocation order which is based around long standing safety issues and it has successfully applied to continue operating until the case is heard. 

Jones recently confirmed he is related to the transport company's managing director, Stan Semenoff, and that he accepted a $2000 donation from the former Whangarei mayor in 2008.

He told the House he had spoken to the Transport Agency's chief executive about the decisions and methods of the Semenoff prosecution.

Goldsmith said Jones' actions, which came at a time when the agency was deciding on its next steps in the Semenoff case, were clearly contrary to the Cabinet Manual and in ordinary circumstances would lead to the Minister's resignation.

'Mr Jones has confirmed in the House that he spoke to NZTA's chief executive about the decisions and methods of the Semenoff prosecution.

'He told Newstalk ZB that he asked the NZTA chief for clarification as to why they [NZTA] have been offering immunity and amnesty for Filipino truck drivers to, arguably, spy on New Zealand-owned businesses.'

'Today he accepted in the House that some of those Filipino truck drivers no doubt worked for Semenoff Logging, ' said Goldsmith.

In response to questions in the House on Thursday, Jones raised the issue of what inducements the Crown was 'proposing to offer these Filipino migrant workers to begin acting as pimps?'

He also stated his concern that 'in the absence of a thriving trucking industry, regional development may be undermined,' something he reiterated in an interview with Stuff. 

Jones said he absolutely rejected imputations from the National Party that he had tried to interfere in the court case.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett said Jones was 'doing what we expect of politicians and that's to speak up for the people and portfolios he represents as a Minister.'

The Transport Agency declined to comment on the Semenoff case while it was before the court, but said it had received 114 calls to the hotline since it was launched late last year to gather evidence of safety breaches. 

It said it could offer whistleblowers immunity from prosecution for regulations it was responsible for enforcing, and that could include a driver who had breached driving hours limits under pressure from an employer. 

Leggett said the Transport Agency was playing catch-up after years of light enforcement, safety was top priority, but proper monitoring should catch non-compliance. 

'Having a hotline to squeal to your boss is not a sustainable or even medium term option.'