National Party MP and ACC Minister Judith Collins has been accused of bluffing her way through a defamation law suit.© 2012 MediaWorks TV
Ms Collins is suing two Labour MPs and Radio New Zealand (RNZ) over allegations she leaked a confidential email to the media.
The email contained information about ACC claimant Bronwyn Pullar, the woman at the centre of a row that led to the resignation last month of cabinet minister Nick Smith.
Ms Collins claims her reputation has been damaged and wants Labour MPs Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little to produce evidence supporting their claims.
“It’s very easy to make allegations in the house and even to repeat them outside the house.
“At the end of the day, the question should be, ‘Where is the evidence?’.”
The Labour MPs are refusing to do so and suggest Ms Collins may be bluffing, as no legal papers have been served or filed in court.
Mr Mallard is standing his ground, saying he has “pretty extensive” material to support his case.
Mr Mallard would not be drawn on how confident he felt about his case, but told media on Tuesday: "Clearly I've got good legal advice and I've taken that advice".
Asked whether Ms Collins was being petty, he said: "I think she's in some trouble politically and she has ambitions to the leadership of the National Party and she's trying to protect her back".
Ms Collins has repeatedly said she will drop the action if the three respondents showed their evidence or apologised.
However, Mr Mallard says that is not going to happen.
"I'm satisfied with the material that I've got, which is pretty extensive," he said.
"It is my view that we should let the case run if she wants to let it run because I think that will be more interesting."
He would not repeat the alleged defamatory comment.
"That would involve me releasing Judith Collins' letter (advising him of legal action) which is something for her to do and not for me, I'm advised."
Ms Collins said on Tuesday that she'd received a written response to her letter from Radio New Zealand, but not from either MP.
However, she was "certainly not" dropping the case against the state broadcaster.
Both Ms Collins and the Labour MPs confirmed on Monday they will pay their own costs, although the taxpayer will be required to pick up state-funded Radio New Zealand's bill.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Collins-accused-of-bluffing-defamation-law-suit/tabid/1607/articleID/249146/Default.aspx
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