Cullen's Caught 'Winston' Disease - Rodney Hide

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today said that Deputy Prime Minister Dr Michael Cullen had clearly caught Winston's disease - and become an unmitigated falsifier of veracity.

"Dr Cullen claims that National MP Maurice Williamson said, at a meeting on public transport last night, that National would build no new rail for Auckland," Mr Hide said.

"I was sitting squeezed between Mr Williamson and Labour's Judith Tizard. Mr Williamson said no such thing - Dr Cullen is simply making it up.

"Mr Williamson told the meeting that rail projects would need to be justifiable on the costs and benefits. He certainly didn't rule out building new rail, which everyone at the meeting - including Judith Tizard and attending journalists - will confirm.

"It's sad that we have a Government that can't be honest, and that has taken to making things up. So much for Helen Clark's campaign about trust," Mr Hide said.