Goff: PM should meet Worth complainant

Published: 10:27AM Friday June 05, 2009 Source: NZPA

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Labour leader Phil Goff says he will try to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and the woman who has alleged Richard Worth harassed her with vulgar phone calls and text messages.

The woman, who does not want to be identified, has said she received 40 text messages and 60 phone calls from Worth between November 26 and February 23.

At the time Worth was minister of internal affairs.

He resigned on Tuesday after it became known that police had launched an investigation into another, completely separate, complaint against him.

Goff tabled a statement in parliament on Thursday night in which the woman said some of Worth's messages were sexually explicit and vulgar.

Goff called Key early last month and told him about Worth's behaviour, and Worth was questioned by Key's office.

Key on Friday said Worth had emphatically denied the allegations.

"He was absolutely adamant, he wrote a note to us to say it was categorically incorrect," Key said on Radio New Zealand.

"He said he was prepared to sign an affidavit saying his version of events was right, and he said he would take defamation action against Phil Goff and the Labour Party if the information found its way into the public domain."

Goff says the woman had been hurt by Key's acceptance of Worth's version of events.

"I'll be in touch with Mr Key's office, probably later this morning, to see if a meeting can be facilitated," Goff said.

"He can hear directly from the woman what I have heard from the woman, and he can make his judgement on that basis."

Key has previously said that if the woman's allegations can be proved, that would be sufficient reason to expel Worth from the National Party caucus.

Earlier on Friday Key said that when Goff first raised the issue with him he did not have any other information apart from Goff's phone call.

He did not know the woman's name and still had not seen any of the text messages or emails.

"We take this very seriously, if at any time there had been any information I could have used to back up the complainant's version of events I would have sacked Dr Worth immediately," he said.

The woman said in her statement Worth met her and offered her a job as an ethnic affairs adviser.

After that meeting he called her again and offered her a job as a member of the Lottery Grants Board.

While the woman was on an international family trip the text messages became more explicit.

"These conversations ranged from asking me to buy a transparent garment for myself and whether I wanted a welcome banner at the airport when I returned."

She said that by now she was uncomfortable "with his tone and his approach".

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